Sheriff explains how Nancy Guthrie’s relatives were cleared as suspects in missing person case

"I'm not going to sit in silence when others are attacking the innocent," said Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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February 17, 2026 2:57 p.m. ET

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Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos answers questions about the Nancy Guthrie missing persons case; Nancy Guthrie. Credit:

Jan Sonnenmair/Getty; Savannah Guthrie/Instagram

The Arizona sheriff investigating the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's elderly mother, Nancy, is detailing how authorities were able to clear the Guthrie family as suspects in the ongoing kidnapping case.

"We talked to them, we took their phones, we took their computers," Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told PEOPLE on Tuesday. "I mean, we did everything. We processed their vehicles, we processed their homes."

He then reiterated the department's stance that the *Today* host, her siblings and their spouses have been cooperative, adding, "They’re victims."

Nanos' latest comments come one day after reports emerged that investigators do not believe the members of Guthrie's family were involved in the crime. In a statement to **, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said, "To be clear… the Guthrie family — to include all siblings and spouses — has been cleared as possible suspects in this case. The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious, and are victims in this case. To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel."

Savannah Guthrie (center) and her siblings, Camron and Annie.

Savannah Guthrie/Instagram

Nanos later told NBC News that he felt it was his duty to issue such a clear statement, amid speculation about the family's involvement.

"Sometimes we forget we’re human and we hurt, and kindness matters," he told the outlet on Tuesday morning. "It is every cop's duty to stand up and be that voice for our victims. I’m not going to sit in silence when others are attacking the innocent. Isn’t that what the badge represents?"

Nanos also made his feelings clear in a Feb. 15 interview with* Daily Mail*, which saw him shut down speculation about Annie Guthrie's husband, Tommaso Cioni, who was the last person to see Nancy alive after dropping her off at home the night of her disappearance.

"I understand the pundits are out there. They're gonna say, 'Well, he's the last one to see her alive.' We understand that stuff," Nanos said. "But, my goodness, you're putting a mark on somebody who could be completely innocent. And more important than that, he's family."

As the search for Nancy Guthrie enters its third week, investigators have obtained DNA evidence from gloves found approximately 2 miles from Guthrie's house. Authorities confirmed on Tuesday that the evidence was submitted to a lab in Florida and to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) but stated, "There were no DNA hits in CODIS. At this point, there have been no confirmed CODIS matches in this investigation."

Missing person poster for Nancy Guthrie.

Pima County Sheriff's Department

Nancy Guthrie was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, after being dropped off at home by family members. By Feb. 1, she was declared missing, and a large-scale search was launched. The following day, Nanos confirmed that her disappearance was being investigated as a crime and revealed that traces of Nancy's blood had been discovered on her porch.

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One week later, FBI Director Kash Patel had shared photos and video of a masked man on Guthrie's doorstep, from footage captured on the night she disappeared. Nanos' department later said in a statement to PEOPLE that DNA not belonging to Nancy or her family members was collected at the property. Officials also shared that "several gloves" were found during their investigation.

Thus far, one authorities have detained one person of interest in connection to the case, but he was later released. The man, who identified himself as Carlos, claimed that he did not know who Nancy or Savannah were and had never seen the *Today* show.

The sheriff’s department and the FBI continue to urge anyone with tips to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.**

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