Expert Says Nancy Guthrie Investigation Lacks Transparency, Nanos’ Handling ‘Doesn’t Pass the Smell Test’

For weeks, the Pima County Sheriff's Department has remained under scrutiny for failing to locate Nancy Guthrie or her alleged kidnappers despite a joint investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Many have questioned the probe led by Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos due to inconsistent communication with the public. An expert said investigators have not appeared transparent, given the contradictory comments from officials.

Grayce McCormick, a public relations expert at Lightfinder Public Relations, said in an interview with The Mirror US, “Something about this investigation doesn't pass the smell test from a crisis communications standpoint.”

Failing to pass the smell test means the communication is not completely honest or credible.

McCormick added, “When law enforcement is transparent, consistent, and proactive in its messaging, it builds public trust - and that seems to be where the Pima County Sheriff's Department may be falling short.”

“The communication so far raises questions about clarity, timing, and whether the public is receiving the full picture,” she said. Nanos’ statements about the missing person investigation have raised eyebrows several times.

While Nanos initially said the case could be solved quickly, he later changed his stance, saying it could take weeks or even years to locate Nancy. He has also given conflicting statements about whether Nancy’s abduction was a targeted crime or if the culprit could strike again.

“We believe we know why he did this, and we believe that it was targeted, but we, we can't, we're not 100% sure of that. So it'd be silly to tell people, 'Yeah, don't worry about it. You're, you're not his target.' Don't think for a minute that because it happened to the Guthrie family, you're safe. No, keep your wits about you,” Nanos told NBC News earlier this month.

The lack of transparency has led to dissatisfaction among Nancy Guthrie's well-wishers, and many have even called for Nanos's removal from office. Daniel Butierez, a local Republican congressional candidate, has already filed a formal recall application to oust Nanos from office. Organizers have about 4 months to collect roughly 122,211 signatures to have a recall election for the Sheriff.

“This is a bipartisan effort. It’s not like we’re trying to get signatures from one party or the other. He has been an embarrassment to Tucson and to Pima County with the Nancy Guthrie case. Everyone’s pretty disgusted, Democrats and Republicans,” Butierez said in an interview with The Post.

To add to his troubles, Nanos is also facing a $1.35 million lawsuit stemming from a case he previously handled. In a complaint filed in Arizona, inmate Christopher Michael Marx alleged that Nanos had violated COVID-19 guidelines during the pandemic and put his life in danger.

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing since February 1. Despite global media attention and hundreds of tips, investigators have not been able to determine what happened to her.