Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos explained why DNA testing has “prolonged” the investigation.

Sheriff in Nancy Guthrie case gives update 4 months into investigation

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos explained why DNA testing has "prolonged" the investigation.

By Sharareh Drury

June 4, 2026 3:12 p.m. ET

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Sheriff Chris Nanos; Nancy Guthrie. Credit:

KOLD News 13/YouTube; Savannah Guthrie/Instagram

- Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos explained why DNA testing makes "difficult" cases like the search for Nancy Guthrie even more challenging.

- Over 100 days have passed since the 84-year-old mother of *Today* anchor Savannah Guthrie was reported missing from her home in Tucson, Ariz.

- Nanos insisted the public continue to call with any possible information: "We know somebody out there knows."

Four months into the search for Nancy Guthrie, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos gave an update on the mother of *Today* anchor Savannah Guthrie, who was targeted in a suspected abduction.

In an interview with KOLD News 13 in Tucson, Ariz., on Monday, Nanos said one of the challenges investigators face is lengthy time frames for DNA testing.

"These cases are difficult," Nanos said in the interview. "Not just this case. A number of our cases come to us where it requires a lot of work from other people. It's not just a detective who goes out there, talks to somebody, and we can make an arrest."

"This is a very sensitive case, but what really makes it prolonged is we do rely on labs," he continued, noting that both digital labs as well as testing for DNA have protocols in place that are crucial to follow and can be time-consuming.

"You don't want to jeopardize not just the integrity of this case, but the integrity of DNA as a supplement to law enforcement work," Nanos added.

Nancy Guthrie in 2019.

Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

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"The criminal justice process, we have rules we have to go by, too — constitution, laws, things of that nature, rules of the court. Those all guide us," Nanos said, while adding that "a positive" among the challenges of DNA testing is that those reviewing the evidence are "doing their best to stay within those rules."

"Nobody wants to arrest the wrong person," Nanos emphasized.

Nanos also encouraged the public to continue sending any tips to his agency as well as the FBI, and that even with the case being over 100 days out, "We know somebody out there knows."**

Nancy Guthrie and daughter Savannah Guthrie.

savannahguthrie/Instagram

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Nanos shared in a previous interview with KOLD News 13 that he remains hopeful there will be justice for Nancy, who was taken from her residence in the Catalina Foothills in the early morning hours of Feb. 1.

"I think every day they get closer," Nanos said of multiple authorities searching for Nancy. "There’s way too much work to be done — that is ongoing — with some of the physical evidence we have. And we’re not going to give up on it just because it’s been 100 days."

Watch Nanos' full interview above.**

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