TRUE CRIME NEWSNancy Guthrie Update: Deputies Union President Calls Out 'Big Misstep' in Investigation
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on February 1.
Aug. 16 2026, Published 12:53 p.m. ET
The disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy, is still puzzling authorities six months after the investigation began.
Sergeant Aaron Cross, who is the president of the Pima County Deputies Organization, recently noted there was a "big misstep" in the case.
Nancy Guthrie Was Last Seen at Her Tucson Home on January 31
Sergeant Aaron Cross said there was a huge 'misstep' in Nancy Guthrie's case.
Nancy, 84, was reported missing from her Tucson, Ariz., home on February 1 and her whereabouts are still unknown.
During a recent interview with TMZ, Aaron explained there were problems within the Pima County Sheriff's Department from the start of the probe.
"The big misstep, in my opinion — and the opinion of many of the detectives and people in the community — is just giving up the scene so quickly," he claimed.
Aaron Cross Slammed the Pima County Sheriff's Department
Several ransom notes were sent to Savannah Guthrie regarding her missing mom.
"I think the next day it was given back to the family, and there was no reason for that," he said.
Aaron then denounced the lead sergeant of Nancy's ongoing case. "He was promoted to sergeant only in 2023, if I remember correctly, so he very rapidly went inside, from patrol and then was assigned to homicide," the police chief noted.
"I don't believe he put in for that — usually those assignments are made by command. So command, for whatever reason despite the fact that he had never been in homicide before, thought he was the right person for that unit," he continued.
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No suspects have been identified or charged in Nancy Guthrie's abduction.
He then placed most of the blame on Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who has been at the center of the investigation since its beginning.
"It was almost unheard of prior to Chris Nanos winning an election, having someone with that little experience in homicide," Aaron stated.
No Suspect Has Been Identified in Nancy Guthrie's Case
A masked person was seen in camera footage at Nancy Guthrie's home.
"If they were brought in, it would be one person being brought in, and the rest of the unit would mentor that new detective to show him the ropes and how to be a homicide detective to show him the ropes and how to be a homicide detective," Aaron lambasted, also claiming all of the detectives in Nancy's case had "three years or less" of experience.
Nancy was last seen at her residence on the evening of January 31. While no suspect has been identified yet, a masked individual was seen in camera footage from her home.
Savannah, 54, and her family have received several ransom notes demanding cash in exchange for Nancy, but none have been verified.
