It's been 58 days since Nancy Guthrie was last seen, and while the search for the 84-year-old mother of TODAY's Savannah Guthrie continues, questions about the initial investigation appear to be ramping up.
Nancy was reported missing by her family on February 1 from her home near Tucson, Arizona, after failing to attend a virtual church service at a friend’s house. Almost two months later, Savannah and her siblings, as well as the Pima County Sheriff's Department are still searching for Nancy.
There has been some insinuation that the department made early errors, leading to Nancy still being missing. HELLO! spoke to former Lieutenant and Commanding Officer of the Nassau County Police Department Michael Gould who focused on those "critical missteps."
© Getty Images"In this case, there was no operational urgency to release the scene," Michael told HELLO!. "The victim lived alone, the location was not a high-traffic environment, and there was no immediate need to return the property to normal use. Under those circumstances, maintaining control of the scene for an extended period would have been both reasonable and necessary."
But, because Michael's "belief remains unchanged" that "Nancy likely lost her life early in this incident," he shared his frustrations over the limiting of cadaver dogs.
"The decision to discontinue or limit the use of cadaver dogs is, in my opinion, a critical misstep," the former Lieutenant explained. "Properly trained human remains detection dogs are among the most effective tools available in cases like this, particularly when searching for evidence that is otherwise invisible."
© FBIWhy did the Pima County Sheriff's Department limit the use of cadaver dogs?
Like many local law enforcement agencies, the Pima County Sheriff's Department does not have its own cadaver dogs. Initially, they borrowed K-9s from the local Border Patrol office, but as of mid-March are no longer deploying them as part of the investigation.
While Michael – who has decades of law enforcement experience, specializing in canine scent detection and human remains detection – remains convinced that the investigators should utilize cadaver dogs and that Nancy "will ultimately be located within a relatively short distance of her home," the Pima County Sheriff's Department has "no regrets."
© Getty ImagesThe lead investigator, Sheriff Chris Nanos, recently told News 4 Tucson: "Look, I have no regrets about my team and their efforts. I don't regret [that] we let the crime scene go too soon or any of that."
"Having 'no regrets' in the face of legitimate concerns does not reflect confidence; it reflects a troubling lack of self-awareness," Michael told HELLO!. "The questions surrounding this case deserve clear, direct answers."
Is Nancy Guthrie's kidnapping random or personal?
The private investigator told HELLO!: "From the outset, my position has not changed: this does not appear to be a random crime. A random burglary is highly unlikely. Burglars do not typically enter occupied homes – especially through primary access points – without some understanding of who may be inside. That level of risk is inconsistent with opportunistic criminal behavior."
© TODAYHe went on: "The idea of kidnapping an 84-year-old woman for financial gain is extraordinarily rare. To me, this suggests: A targeted event, a likely personal or emotional motive, rather than financial, [and] perpetrator who may have had some level of familiarity with the victim or environment."
