Nancy Guthrie Sheriff Responds to Kash Patel Criticism & More

Six months after Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her home in Tucson, Arizona, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos sat down for an interview. Rather than speaking with a major television network, Nanos sat down with a seventeen-year-old high school senior named Wyatt Sharpe, host of The Sharpe Exchange.

High Schooler Scores a Scoop

Many viewers discovered the interview after veteran journalist Ashleigh Banfield highlighted it on her podcast. On her Drop Dead Serious podcast, she praised the young interviewer. Banfield said that “it took a 17-year-old guy from Canada” to put the sheriff “to the test.”

She called Sharpe “a prodigy” and joked that “we’re all going to work for Wyatt one year.” She added that Sharpe “scored the interview” and asked “pointed questions” that left Nanos taking “big long pauses.”

Following her endorsement, many true crime fans headed to Sharpe’s YouTube channel with viewers noting Banfield sent them there.

Pushback on the FBI and Director Kash Patel

The interview covers several major points in the missing person investigation. Nanos addressed criticisms from FBI Director Kash Patel. On Fox News, Patel argued that earlier FBI involvement could have resulted in investigators obtaining additional video footage.

Nanos pushed back. He said Patel was “misinformed and doesn’t understand” the timeline. He also stated local FBI agents were present on day one. Sheriff Chris Nanos added that he has “never met” Patel. He suggested the director likely received inaccurate information from subordinates.

Lab Work and Genetic Genealogy

Nanos also discussed the DNA evidence inside the house where Nancy Guthrie lived. Nanos acknowledged that he is “no expert in DNA.” However, he confirmed labs across the country are working on the samples.

He said investigators are looking at both genetic genealogy and standard profiles. They hope to find “second cousins” or get enough data for a direct match. The sheriff noted that lab work takes time. He stated that “nobody wants to arrest the wrong person.”

In that respect, Ashleigh Banfield had mentioned that genetic genealogy can take a very long time.

Hope for the Guthrie Family

On the question of whether Nancy Guthrie is still alive, Nanos took a cautious stance. Five months ago, he told news anchor Elizabeth Vargas that he believed she was alive.

Speaking to Sharpe, Nanos asked, “Where’s the benefit in my believing she’s dead when there’s no proof?” He said he saw no reason to “crush that hope” for the family without evidence of a burial site.

He also said that if the family believes “there’s some chance that she might still be with us,” then he will support them.

Ransom Notes and Online Sleuths

The sheriff also raised concerns about the impact online sleuths had on the neighbourhood where Nancy vanished. He said service calls increased dramatically during the investigation and claimed some internet creators confronted local residents.

Regarding ransom demands, Nanos confirmed that every note goes straight to federal partners. He warned against fake demands, reminding true crime followers that one young man in California “got sentenced 10 years” for trying to profit off a false lead.

A Good Working Relationship?

Throughout the podcast, Sheriff Chris Nanos insisted the working relationship between local officers and federal agents remains solid. He said his team meets daily and insisted that his investigators aren’t feeling defeated.

According to Nanos, the team continues working every lead that comes in.

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