A veteran Customs and Border Protection agent has disclosed the one grave reason that may prevent the discovery of Nancy Guthrie’s alleged abductor following her disappearance almost a week ago.
On February 1, authorities reported Nancy Guthrie, 84, missing due to her absence from her regular 11 a.m. church service in Tucson, Arizona. Savannah Guthrie’s mother last saw her son-in-law driving her home after a family dinner the previous evening.
Law enforcement swiftly discovered blood on Guthrie’s front door and signs of forced entry upon receiving notification of her disappearance. Two media organizations have reportedly received alleged ransom notes, leading police to suspect that Guthrie was kidnapped; however, neither the FBI nor the Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the authenticity of the notes.
In the wake of her disappearance, several law enforcement specialists have expressed their opinions on Guthrie’s case, with one asserting a grim prediction regarding the likelihood of her abductor being apprehended.
Art Del Cueto, a seasoned officer with US Customs and Border Protection residing near the 84-year-old’s residence, articulated his belief that law enforcement will encounter difficulties in locating the suspect. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Del Cueto, who is not associated with the case, asserted that the local topography will likely impede the investigation.
The border agent dedicated years to monitoring individuals across Tucson’s challenging landscape and participated in various search-and-rescue missions. Nonetheless, due to the remote nature of the vicinity surrounding Guthrie’s residence and its intricate desert flora, he posits that the perpetrator may remain undiscovered.
Furthermore, he noted the city’s adjacency to the Mexican border, indicating that the suspect has an increased likelihood of evading detection by heading south.
“We’re on the southern border. You’re dealing with international crime all the time, and there are just too many variables to rule anything out,” Del Cueto explained, before noting that the home’s location may be why investigators aren’t revealing many details about the case.
“If somebody gets spooked, they can make it into Mexico in under an hour and a half – that’s why authorities may not be sharing everything they know,” the veteran officer claimed.
Del Cueto is not the sole expert to express his insights on the case; former FBI special agent Dr. Bryanna Cox has also disclosed her profile of the abductor. Dr. Fox, a criminology professor at the University of South Florida, asserts that the suspect is likely a male in his 30s or 40s.
According to her profile, Dr. Fox said the suspect probably “has a criminal record, is sophisticated enough to know what law enforcement is going to be looking for, and has committed a series of escalating types of crimes.”
Notwithstanding Dr. Fox’s prominence, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos affirmed that there are presently no suspects in Nancy Guthrie’s case, and the investigation remains active.
Federal agents, accompanied by K-9 units, were dispatched to Nancy Guthrie’s residence in Arizona on Wednesday night, where they allegedly conducted a search of a nearby wooded area and the garage of the missing woman.
Agents collaborated with officers from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, who reinstated caution tape at the residence of the 84-year-old to restrict access to the property, as reported by NewsNation’s Brian Entin in a post on X.
No suspects or persons of interest have been identified, and the investigation remains active, with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department working alongside federal partners.
Authorities have not confirmed whether any alleged ransom correspondence received by media outlets is legitimate.
Nancy Guthrie’s age, limited mobility, and reliance on daily medication have heightened concerns about her welfare, her family and officials say. Investigators have urged anyone with information to contact local law enforcement.
