Nancy Guthrie Case Update: Former Detective Says Suspect’s Name May Already Be Known to Police

As Nancy Guthrie has been missing for nearly four months, a law enforcement expert has explained how detectives could eventually crack the case. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have jointly conducted the investigation without any major breakthrough.

Investigators previously said they have received around 50,000 leads in the case. Robbie Mayer, a retired detective who earlier worked at PCSD, has now highlighted that these leads might hold the key to solving the case. Mayer said investigators need to review the leads one by one, and their determination might help them find the suspect.

Mayer discussed how Guthrie’s disappearance mystery could be solved in an interview with News 4 Tucson. He said, “I believe the suspect's names are in those 50,000. The question is if they can recognize it when they see it. Being in a case like this is like being in a field with rocks, and what you're looking for is under one rock. You just have to keep turning.”

The expert added that although the case is difficult to solve, he believes the FBI is capable of doing so. “This case is so unique. Most of the time, we try and find patterns. We can't in this case. These guys came prepared not to leave hair or DNA. Look at how that guy was clothed. They turned off their cell phones. This is a very high-caliber investigation, and I think the FBI is gonna crack the case,” Mayer said.

Mayer went on to compare the investigation to a case he worked onwhile at PCSD in 1986. At the time, a man called the ‘Prime Time Rapist’ had wreaked havoc in Tucson. For three years, the suspect invaded several homes, carried out burglaries, and s—---- assaulted women inside.

Detectives received 4,000 leads in the case, and Brian Larriva was identified as the suspect. “We ended up with more than 4,000 leads. One of the detectives had Larriva's name as a lead, but he hadn't gotten to it yet because he had so many leads in front of that,” Mayer said. Larriva ultimately died by suicide when police reached his home and asked him to surrender.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has already indicated that detectives are following a similar approach to the one suggested by Mayer. When the investigation reached the 100-day mark, Nanos told 13 News that detectives are working hard every day and are inching closer to finding Guthrie.

“They are working hard to get this resolved, and I think every day they get closer,” Nanos said, adding, “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.”