Kash Patel, local sheriff clash over handling of Nancy Guthrie case

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FBI Director Kash Patel is criticizing section officials implicit their handling of the Nancy Guthrie case — but the Pima County sheriff said immoderate of Patel's comments are not accurate.

Guthrie, the parent of "Today" amusement co-host Savannah Guthrie, disappeared much than 3 months agone from her Tucson, Arizona, home. She was past seen connected Jan. 31 and was reported missing connected Feb. 1 aft a person called the household to archer them she wasn't astatine church.

Nancy Guthrie poses with girl Savannah Guthrie successful an undated photograph.

In a podcast interrogation with Sean Hannity connected Tuesday, Patel said the Pima County Sheriff's Department waited excessively agelong to get the FBI involved.

"For 4 days we were kept retired of the investigation," Patel claimed.

But Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is disputing what Patel said. The sheriff's section posted a connection from Nanos connected X that said a subordinate of the FBI task unit was connected the country the nighttime Guthrie was archetypal reported missing.

"While the FBI manager was not connected scene, coordination with the bureau began without delay," the connection work successful part.

Two days later, the Pima County Sheriff's Department held a quality league with the FBI.

"When we were yet fto in, Sean, look what we did," Patel said connected the podcast. "We went successful and got the ... doorbell [video] and we said, 'Hey, is anyone talking to Google?'"

Patel said helium spoke with Google enactment and wrong days received the chilling images of a suspect, described arsenic a antheral of mean physique with an approximate tallness of 5-foot-9 oregon 5-foot-10, extracurricular Guthrie's home.

The antheral was wearing a look disguise successful images taken from Guthrie's doorbell camera video and had gloves and a achromatic Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack, the FBI said.

Patel besides criticized section officials for not utilizing the FBI's laboratory successful Quantico to analyze DNA evidence.

"I had a fixed-wing craft connected the crushed acceptable to determination it instantly done the night," Patel said. "And they accidental we're sending it to Florida."

In his X post, Nanos wrote the department's decisions regarding grounds processing "were made connected country based connected operational needs."

"The laboratory utilized by the Pima County Sheriff's Department and the FBI Laboratory successful Quantico person worked successful adjacent concern from the outset and proceed to collaborate successful the investigation of evidence," Nanos said successful his statement.

As the hunt for answers continues, Guthrie's household has been cleared of immoderate involvement in her disappearance, according to investigators.

Kelsie Hoffman contributed to this report.

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