Megyn Kelly, Nancy Grace and more sounded off on law enforcement in the Nancy Guthrie case following reports that the Pima County sheriff blocked the FBI from accessing key evidence.
According to multiple media reports, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos insisted on sending physical evidence in the Guthrie case — including a glove and DNA from her Tucson, Arizona home — to a private lab in Florida over the FBI’s national crime laboratory in Quantico, Virginia. The sheriff was accused by an FBI source on Thursday of impairing the agency’s ability to help in the investigation.
However, according to KOLD News anchor Mary Coleman, the sheriff denied blocking evidence to the FBI, but shared that his department wanted all evidence submitted to the same lab versus multiple labs.
Still, in the wake of this allegation, many took to social media to criticize law enforcement for the supposed infighting while “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old remains missing after 12 days.
For instance, conservative commentator Megyn Kelly post on X amid the brewing controversy, writing, “All of this infighting among LE in the Nancy Guthrie case does not exactly telegraph: we’re on the verge of solving it.”
Nancy Grace, the controversial legal commentator and host of “Crime Stories,” also weighed in during her Thursday night appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity.”
“There are cases where DNA is sent to a particular lab, a specialty lab, a lab that could have expertise in diluted, destroyed, old, degenerated DNA,” she said. “But even if that’s why he’s hanging his hat on an excuse to send it to a private lab in Florida, they don’t have anything that the FBI doesn’t have, so that’s not going to wash.”
She continued: “If there’s a small amount of DNA inside one of those gloves and it is sent to a lab for testing, that DNA could be used up in the testing … So what I’m saying is, if that lab in Florida uses up that touch DNA, it’s over. Does he not realize what he is risking? He needs to go back to his basketball game.”
Nancy Grace warns sending crucial DNA to a private lab could risk destroying limited evidence, questioning why it’s not being handled by the FBI:
— Sean Hannity 🇺🇸 (@seanhannity) February 13, 2026
“There are cases where DNA is sent to a particular lab, a specialty lab, a lab that could have expertise in diluted, destroyed, old,… pic.twitter.com/Pa0bxwyfBX
CNN’s Xochitl Hinojosa called the alleged tension between the FBI and the Pima County sheriff “insane,” writing on X, “The FBI should always be lead when there is an abduction. That’s what’s best for the investigation.”
True crime podcaster Phil Holloway expressed a similar sentiment, noting, “What in the fresh hell? With this pissing contest, the Nancy Guthrie case may never be solved.”
Keep reading for more reactions to the reported evidence clash.
We’ve had the sense for several days now that there is a pissing contest between the Sheriff and the FBI
— Phil Holloway ✈️ (@PhilHollowayEsq) February 13, 2026
I can’t think of any good reason to block the FBI from any evidence in the Nancy Guthrie case – except stubbornness https://t.co/8jNtmVo5rq
Whatever is going on with Sheriff Nanos @PimaSheriff and the @FBIPhoenix @FBIDirectorKash – it needs to stop NOW. Yesterday. If these reports are true – that the FBI is being "blocked" from testing evidence? Now, @FoxNews is out with a report that the Pima SO never asked for…
— Angenette Levy (@Angenette5) February 13, 2026
I’m sorry the Sheriff is doing what? Why in the world would a Sheriff block the FBI from key DNA evidence that they want to test at Quantico in favor of sending it to a private lab in Florida? That’s what’s happening here apparently. A weird case continues to get weirder. https://t.co/zxRV4QKk1i
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) February 13, 2026
At this point, the behavior coming out of Tucson is beyond incompetence. When a Sheriff is resisting transparency and blocking federal involvement in the Nancy Guthrie case, the public has every right to ask what he is trying to protect.
— Kylie Jane Kremer (@KylieJaneKremer) February 13, 2026
Honestly, in my humble opinion, it is… https://t.co/rrRqR3sSao
Pima County never reached out to the FBI….
— Gina Milan (@ginamilan_) February 13, 2026
Wake me up when this is over. https://t.co/kbL6OMtSsK
I would be LIVID if I were Savannah Guthrie https://t.co/bTRzB9E32o
— Dana Bowling – Daily Dose of Dana (@imdanabowling) February 12, 2026
Nancy was last seen on the evening of Jan. 31, when family dropped her off at her home after a dinner and game night. However, by late-midday Sunday, Nancy was reported missing after not attending church.
The Guthrie matriarch remains missing, but on Thursday both the Pima County sheriff and the FBI released updates in the case. Specifically, the sheriff’s department confirmed they have located several items of evidence, including black gloves, which have been submitted for DNA analysis. Hours later, the FBI shared Thursday afternoon that they could confirm the suspect’s height and the backpack he was carrying in previously released Nest camera footage. They also upped the reward to $100,000.
The sheriff’s department notably reposted FBI Phoenix’s X post on the suspect details.
