Pima County Sheriff's Department Limiting Public Updates On Nancy Guthrie As Case Nears 1-Month Mark
By Danielle Jennings on February 25, 2026 at 5:15 PM EST
Nancy Guthrie has been missing for almost a month, with no substantial breaks in the case.
As a result, the Pima County Sheriff's Department recently made a major announcement regarding how they will handle things moving forward.
In a statement, the sheriff's department confirmed that it will no longer provide regular daily updates on the progress of the case and will instead opt to share information on a limited basis.
Pima County Sheriff's Department To Limit Daily Updates In Nancy Guthrie Case
According to USA Today, on Tuesday, February 24, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said in part regarding the 84-year-old's disappearance, "at this time, we will limit further updates to instances when new information warrants release."
"The Pima County Sheriff's Department and the FBI continue to work around the clock on this investigation and are actively pursuing all viable leads," the statement continued.
Decision For Limited Public Updates Follows Reports That Guthrie's Disappearance May Soon Be Labeled A 'Cold Case'
Despite FBI Director Kash Patel previously stating that the photo of the potential suspect seen at Nancy Guthrie's front door was taken on the morning of her disappearance, that claim has now been refuted, according to TMZ.
According to the news outlet, inside sources from the FBI now say they do not know the exact date the image was captured, as Guthrie had not paid the regular subscription required for the camera's cloud storage service, which would have provided a time stamp to help clarify the timeline of events.
The agency now believes the potential male suspect could have shown up at the 84-year-old's home as early as January 11, several weeks before Guthrie's February 1 disappearance.
Given this latest development and the fact that no solid leads have been identified, law enforcement reportedly told TMZ that Guthrie's kidnapping is gradually becoming a "cold case."
Savannah Guthrie Increased The Reward For Her Mother's Return To $1 Million
View this post on Instagram
Taking to Instagram, the "Today" show anchor posted another emotional video pleading for the return of her mother and any information that may help find her. She also announced that she is now offering an increased reward totaling $1 million.
"Family reward of up to $1 million will be paid only for recovery of Nancy Guthrie, consistent with FBI criteria for payment of its reward in this case," the caption of the video read.
"We need to know where she is, we need her to come home," Savannah said in the video. "We also know that she may be lost, she may already be gone. She may have already gone home to the lord that she loves."
She continued, "If you've been waiting and you haven't been sure, let this be your sign to please come forward."
Pima County Sheriff's Department Criticized For Allegedly Mishandling The Case
The bulk of the scrutiny directed at the Pima County Sheriff's Department surrounds how the local police initially secured the crime scene, which was reportedly left open and unprotected without security or crime-scene tape.
"It looks unprofessional. It doesn't look good for our department when we've had reporters walking up and essentially contaminating the scene," Aaron Cross, president of the Pima County Deputies Association, told the New York Post.
Additionally, local police also surrendered the crime scene early in the investigation and overlooked a roof-mounted camera during their initial inspection.
"In my professional opinion, I believe they released the crime scene too early. And that was on Sheriff Nanos," ex-cop Brantner Smith told the outlet.
Sheriff Chris Nanos Accused Of Letting His 'Ego' Get In The Way Of The Investigation Into Nancy Guthrie's Kidnapping
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has been publicly accused of turning Guthrie's disappearance into a platform to boost his ego.
"It is a common belief in this agency that this case has become an ego case for Sheriff Nanos," said Sgt. Aaron Cross, who presides over the Pima County Deputies Organization, per the New York Post.
The main reason behind Nanos' alleged egotistical behavior is due to his affinity for being in front of the camera by doing multiple interviews with various media outlets.
Critics alleged that during said interviews, Nanos appeared more focused on damage control than on providing substantive answers about Nancy Guthrie's kidnapping.
"The sheriff turned a serious investigation into a rolling spectacle, from questionable decisions to shifting narratives and a disastrous media cleanup tour that raised more questions than it answered," an anonymous source remarked about the case.
"Leadership in moments like this requires discipline, not damage control," the insider added.
