Nancy Guthrie’s family cleared as possible suspects
PIMA COUNTY, Ariz. (NBC, KYMA) - The Pima County Sheriff's Department (PCSD) says the Guthrie family has been cleared as possible suspects in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.
The focus on finding a suspect involved in 84-year-old Guthrie's disappearance intensifies as Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos rules out her own family.
In a statement, Sheriff Nanos says in part, "To be clear, the Guthrie family to include all siblings and spouses has been cleared as possible suspects in this case. The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are victims in this case. To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel."
This comes after Nanos previously said he didn't plan to rule anyone out.
Jeffeory Hynes, a retired Phoenix Police Commander, was asked for his insight on the new development.
"Why would you do that? Why would you call them out publicly and say well we looked at you? No, you don't do that. You just let it ride out. You let the investigation continue," Hynes expressed.
As the sheriff rules people out, his detectives are also focusing in on the person seen on Guthrie's doorbell camera video the night she disappeared, specifically what he was wearing.
His backpack is sold exclusively at Walmart, and as of now, PCSD confirms his clothes could have also been purchased at Walmart.
"It's outstanding that they've identified a primary store where that stuff has come from. That gives them an investigative path they can now follow," Hynes remarked.
Hynes says investigators are likely going through Walmart's surveillance video and purchase data.
"That gives them something they can sink their teeth into and just keep digging until they find that one lead that leads them to a suspect," Hynes explained.
Another possible lead in the case DNA found inside Guthrie's home, which nanos told NBC News doesn't belong to Guthrie or anyone close to her.
It's unclear if investigators have since learned who it belongs to.
"You also want to look for any family ties, any connective relationships that you get a partial hit, something that leads you to something else," Hynes shared.
