A former FBI agent voices concerns about the Nancy Guthrie investigation, highlighting potential problems with the handling of DNA evidence.
NewsNation senior national correspondent Brian Entin talked to retired FBI Agent Steve Moore about the issues law enforcement is facing with DNA testing.
Over the weekend, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos acknowledged challenges with testing the mixed DNA found in Nancy’s home, noting that the process could take weeks, months, or even up to a year.
Nancy Guthrie Case: Ex-FBI Agent Flags Concern Over DNA Lab Decision
The sheriff sent the DNA samples to a private lab in Florida rather than the FBI’s lab in Quantico, Virginia—a decision that Moore thinks is a serious issue.
“Maybe they should have sent it to the FBI lab,” the ex-FBI agent told Entin. “I’m sorry, but when you decide against the apparent FBI disagreement to send this to your lab that you’ve used instead of the world’s foremost crime lab, then you’re responsible if it doesn’t work out.”
Moore continued, “I think that to me it is the most glaring issue right now that I would be concerned about if I were the sheriff. That the FBI knew the pitfalls of sending DNA to a private lab and he did it anyway. And guess what? The things the FBI was afraid of are exactly what happened.”
Moore Shares Worrying Concerns About the Nancy Guthrie Investigation
In the same interview, Entin questions whether the DNA wears down over time, especially after being tested multiple times.
Moore explained that multiple tests can definitely affect the DNA, which could ultimately put the Nancy Guthrie case in jeopardy.
“The DNA is finite. I mean, every time you do a test, you use part of the DNA,” Moore noted.
Moore emphasized that DNA evidence can’t be “shopped around” between labs, as differing results could be challenged in court and potentially weaken the case.
“If you have two different results from the same piece of DNA, you can just throw it out as far as its value in court from a prosecution standpoint,” he added.
Moore also expressed concerns about how the crime scene was handled.
“Releasing the crime scene and then coming back and sealing it up again could be a big complication and will be a big complication during trial,” Moore told Entin. “Because anything found after that first release of the crime scene can be assumed, or the defense attorney will want the jury to assume, that everything is compromised and planted after that. So, it will hurt in the prosecution. It won’t necessarily hurt in the efforts to find Nancy.”
The sheriff have taken this personal, I feel him. How can you not take it personal. As of now finding Mrs. Nancy is more important than all other. And besides I trust nothing in Washington, DC. Even Florida.
GOD will have the final word. THE LORD HAS MRS. NANCY. She is his child first.
I’m sorry, but is not professional to take personal an investigation! Unfortunately, the sheriff and either the major, they both haven’t good records taking desicion, especially in cases that usually they don’t have! They been hanging this very serious case not according with suggestions from the FBI. A federal agency by far is more capable to do what is right. Now is a little too late to go back!
Agree completely with you, Wanda. At this time in our country, it would be downright foolish to trust anything coming from DC. The FBI has been politically weaponized, so why would any local law enforcement agency with important information? ‘m not a fan of Sheriff Nanos, but in this case one cannot fault him for being overly cautious with the FBI. My house is 1.2 miles from where Mrs Guthrie lives/lived. Random crimes like this don’t happen here. At most, tool boxes disappear from carports overnight. Humans don’t just disappear. The only thing taken in this crime was Mrs Guthrie, and no (credible) attempt at collecting a ransom has been put forward. If money wasn’t the motive, and given her direct connection to a national media personality, there is way more than meets the eye here
This case has been handled wrong from the beginning. I don’t think that the sheriff’s office was equipped or had the knowledge to handle a case such as this. They released to much information about the case.
They can find ,arrest or shoot to kill the ones trying to take down our President,but they can’t locate an 84 year old sickly soul or the people that took her even with all the clues they left. Sounds suspicious to me or they definitely should reconsider their career path immediately ‼️
That’s why I’m sure there is way way more to this whole case in which they do not have to tell the public about, as to jeopardize it!..
The time it has taken this investigation is pathetic. This is the mother of a well known news figure. If it takes this long, just imagine the time it would take for a regular person to find a loved one. Perhaps the law enforcement and FBI should all go back to The Law 101.