FBI seeks to take over Nancy Guthrie case as Pima County Sheriff accused of letting ego get in the way of investigation

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has been accused by critics of turning the hunt for Nancy Guthrie into something of an ego trip, as the FBI has been desperately trying to take over the case.

The FBI is not able to take over the investigation unless the Guthrie family specifically asks for it, but the criticism of Nanos has come as the Pima County police have made a number of missteps while trying to hunt down Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie who was reported missing on February 1, and her kidnappers.

The mistakes include leaving Guthrie's house unguarded for hours after the crime, as well as an investigation that has yielded little results after over two weeks. There have been no clear suspects or strong leads in the case.

Multiple law enforcement sources have said that the FBI is looking to take over the case, according to the New York Post. “It is a common belief in this agency that this case has become an ego case for Sheriff Nanos,” Sgt. Aaron Cross, president of the Pima County Deputies Organization, said.

From the start of the investigation into Guthrie's disappearance, Nanos has been the top Arizona cop leading the case, appearing for interviews, taking center stage for briefings, and has been the go-to source of information on the case.

In his spate of interviews with journalists and briefings, there have been conflicting reports as well as a feeling that the sheriff has been doing "damage control" on the case, according to a law enforcement source that spoke to the outlet. “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."

“Leadership in moments like this requires discipline, not damage control,” the law enforcement source added in comments to the Post.