On Friday, President Donald Trump addressed the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, questioning why the FBI has not assumed control of the case nearly two weeks after she went missing from her Tucson, Arizona residence.
Guthrie, the mother of NBC host Savannah Guthrie, has been unaccounted for since February 1. As of now, authorities have not identified any suspects or persons of interest in the case, which remains unsolved 13 days later.
During a press briefing at the White House, Trump provided insight into why the Pima County Sheriff’s Department continues to lead the investigation rather than federal authorities.
“The local authorities preferred to retain control, which is acceptable. The choice lies with them and the communities involved,” Trump stated to journalists gathered outside the White House on Friday afternoon. “Nevertheless, with the FBI’s involvement, I believe progress is being made.”
President Trump was speaking to the press on the South Lawn prior to boarding Marine One in Washington, D.C., captured in images by Samuel Corum of Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images on Friday, February 13, 2026.
Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt conveyed that FBI Director Kash Patel assured her that federal agents are actively engaged in Arizona, providing comprehensive support and resources to local law enforcement.
The president’s comments came after a U.S. law enforcement source told Fox News Digital on Thursday that Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is blocking the FBI from key evidence.
During an interview Friday with Fox News’ Matt Finn, Nanos defended his department’s partnership with the FBI, saying his office did not find a glove at Guthrie’s property and a private Florida lab, which the sheriff’s department has been contracted with for decades, began receiving evidence at the start of the investigation and that the FBI agreed that evidence should continue to be sent there instead of the FBI’s national crime laboratory in Quantico, Virginia.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos speaks to the media in Catalina, Arizona, on Feb. 3, 2026, while answering questions about the search for Nancy Guthrie. ( Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images)
Nanos added he called the FBI for assistance on the next working day after Guthrie’s disappearance and that it would be “absolutely crazy” to not take advantage of their partnership.
FBI Phoenix on Thursday said new “identifying details” about Guthrie’s potential abductor have been confirmed after a forensic analysis of the doorbell camera footage by the FBI’s Operational Technology Division.
The suspect is described as a man, roughly 5 feet, 9 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches tall, with an average build.
An undated photo of Nancy Guthrie and Savannah Guthrie provided by NBC in response to the disappearance of the 84-year-old mother of the “Today” host. (Courtesy of NBC)
Officials also specified the brand of backpack the suspect was seen wearing in a video released Tuesday, confirming it was a black, 25-liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” backpack.
President Donald Trump spoke with reporters on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, about the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. (Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Trump was also asked Friday whether cartels or possibly another “nation state” could be involved in Guthrie’s disappearance.
“You can’t say that yet,” Trump said outside the White House, responding to a question from Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich. “It’s a little bit early.”
“But it’s somebody [who] either knew what they were doing very well, or they were rank amateurs. Either way, it’s not a good situation,” Trump added.
