Insider on rift with FBI - latest on Nancy Guthrie investigation - day 55
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Nancy Guthrie disappeared 55 days ago from her Tucson home, with back doors found propped open and her personal items left behind.
- ❖Savannah Guthrie expressed profound agony over her mother's disappearance and the lack of answers.
- ❖Dr. Richard Carmona, former US Surgeon General and Pima County Sheriff's deputy, alleges Sheriff Nanos lacks support from the law enforcement community.
- ❖Sheriff Nanos reportedly refused to fully share information with the FBI and sent evidence to a private lab, despite the FBI offering free, superior forensic services.
- ❖Nanos's public statements have been contradictory, and he is criticized for compromising the crime scene early in the investigation.
- ❖Allegations surfaced that Nanos misrepresented his disciplinary history from a previous job in El Paso, including multiple suspensions and a brutality lawsuit.
Insights
1Sheriff Nanos's Alleged Incompetence and Lack of Inter-Agency Cooperation
Dr. Richard Carmona, a former Pima County Sheriff's deputy, states that Sheriff Nanos has 'very little support from the community of law enforcement' in Southern Arizona. Carmona claims Nanos leads by 'intimidation and coercion,' not inspiration, and that many agencies prefer not to work with him. This strained relationship led to Nanos allegedly not sharing information with the FBI and sending crucial evidence to a private lab in Florida, despite the FBI offering its world-class forensics lab for free.
Dr. Carmona's direct statements about Nanos's leadership style and the FBI's complaints about information sharing. The decision to use a private lab over the FBI's free services.
2Compromised Crime Scene Integrity
Sheriff Nanos is criticized for personally declaring the crime scene 'open' early in the investigation, a decision typically made by the lead detective. This led to incidents like a pizza delivery van crossing the yard, potentially contaminating evidence. Dr. Carmona emphasizes that a crime scene, once corrupted, 'cannot be reconstituted,' jeopardizing the validity of any collected evidence in court.
Dr. Carmona's account of Nanos's public statements about opening the crime scene and witnessing a pizza delivery van on the property. His explanation of standard crime scene protocols.
3Erosion of Public Trust Due to Mixed Messaging and Optics
Nanos's inconsistent public statements, such as initially denying the significance of a January 11th date related to camera footage and then reversing course, have caused public confusion. Dr. Carmona argues that Nanos's need to 'keep correcting himself and changing his story every day' undermines public trust. Additionally, Nanos's appearance at a basketball game with his chief during the peak of the investigation, while federal agents were actively working, was seen as poor optics by law enforcement colleagues.
Discussion of Nanos's contradictory statements regarding the January 11th date and the cost of forensic labs. Dr. Carmona's observation of Nanos at a basketball game during the investigation.
4Allegations of Sheriff Nanos's Dishonesty Regarding Past Disciplinary History
Reports suggest that Sheriff Nanos allegedly lied under oath about his disciplinary history when he transferred from El Paso to Tucson years ago. This history reportedly includes eight suspensions and a lawsuit related to police brutality. Dr. Carmona states that such information, if known, would have prevented his hiring, and that lying about it 'erodes the trust in the public.'
Host Brian Entin's mention of the allegations and Dr. Carmona's strong assertion that Nanos would not have forgotten such a record and that it 'erodes the trust in the public.'
Lessons
- Recognize that leadership conflicts and poor inter-agency communication can severely impede critical investigations, even with ample resources available.
- Understand that the integrity of a crime scene is paramount; any compromise, especially early on, can invalidate evidence and hinder justice.
- Be critical of public statements from law enforcement officials, especially when they are inconsistent or appear to prioritize personal image over collaborative efforts.
Notable Moments
Savannah Guthrie's emotional appeal for answers regarding her mother's disappearance, emphasizing her mother's faith and strength.
This moment humanizes the impact of the ongoing investigation, highlighting the profound personal toll on the family and serving as a powerful call for public assistance.
Sheriff Nanos's appearance at a basketball game with his chief during the peak of the Nancy Guthrie investigation, while federal agents were actively involved.
This incident is cited by Dr. Carmona as an example of Nanos's poor judgment and 'terrible optics,' further undermining confidence in his leadership during a critical time.
Quotes
"But faith is how I will stay connected to my mom. God is how I'm holding hands with my mom and I won't let sadness win for her. She taught me."
"My concern was the distraction caused by the poor leadership by the sheriff, which created a story of its own at a time when we should all be focused on finding Savannah's mother. That's the mission, not debating whether or not a sheriff is competent or not."
"He sent the evidence to a private lab in Florida and then he claimed it was cheaper. Well, the FBI doesn't charge you when you're working with them and you have the best forensics lab in the world. Why wouldn't you use them?"
"You cannot reconstitute a crime scene. Once it has been corrupted, that's the end of it because you have not maintained the integrity of that space."
"I'm trying to get the words right. I'm not used to being held accountable for my words."
Q&A
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