Sheriff accused of blocking FBI access to crucial evidence in Nancy Guthrie kidnapping

Federal officials are accusing the Pima County Sheriff's Office of withholding "key evidence" in the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, Reuters reported on Thursday.

"The FBI asked Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos for physical evidence in the case, including a glove and DNA from the home of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, to be processed at the FBI's national crime laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, but Nanos has insisted instead on using a private lab in Florida, the official said," per the report. "Outsourcing forensic analysis to a Florida contractor, effectively denying the access of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to crucial evidence in the case, is delaying the FBI ability to assist in the case, according to the official."

The official told Reuters, "It’s clear the fastest path to answers is leveraging federal resources and technology. Anything less only prolongs the Guthrie family’s grief and the community’s wait for justice.”

According to the report, "The Pima County sheriff has primary jurisdiction over the case, and FBI assistance must be officially requested by the county, otherwise the FBI is legally precluded from taking part in the investigation. The official said the county has spent some $200,000 so far to send evidence in the Guthrie case to the Florida lab."

Reuters' request for comment from the Pima County Sheriff's Office did not receive a response as of press time.

This comes as FBI officials release new info about the suspected kidnapper in the case, which has gained national attention due to the victim being the mother of a prominent journalist.