Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is facing backlash for not utilizing all the tools at his disposal after Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy Guthrie, went missing in Arizona.
According to a source close to the investigation, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department’s Air Operations Unit was grounded during the pivotal first hours of the search because their 2010 Cessna 206 was undergoing a scheduled engine overhaul.
While the department does have a newer Cessna 208 Caravan in its fleet, the source claims Nanos failed to authorize its use immediately, opting instead to wait for assistance from neighboring agencies—a move that may have cost the search team hours of time.
“They had a plane sitting right there that could have been in the air within minutes of the 911 call,” the insider tells Page Six. “Instead, they spent those first few hours on the ground while the kidnappers were likely already miles away.”
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has long been under fire for its aging fleet, but this latest development has sparked outrage among locals and experts who believe every second counted.
“In a kidnapping case, the first 48 hours are the most critical,” says former FBI agent and security expert Steve Moore. “If you have the capability to get an eye in the sky and you don’t use it, you’re essentially starting the race with one leg tied behind your back.”
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was abducted from her Catalina Foothills home in Tucson on Sunday night. Evidence of a struggle and blood found at the scene confirmed the abduction, which has since drawn the FBI into a multi-state investigation involving a multimillion-dollar Bitcoin ransom demand.
Sheriff Nanos has defended his department’s actions, stating in a press conference that his team followed all standard protocols. “We are using every resource available to us, both local and federal,” he told reporters. “Our priority is bringing Nancy home safely.”
However, the revelation of the grounded aircraft has added another layer of scrutiny to an investigation already fraught with tension.
Savannah Guthrie has remained off the air from the “Today” show since the news broke, asking for privacy and prayers as the family awaits news.
“This is a nightmare scenario for any family, but to hear that a technicality or a delay in authorization might have hindered the search is devastating,” the source added.
The FBI and Pima County authorities are continuing to follow leads, including a “new message” discovered at the crime scene late Friday.