The Nancy Guthrie case might be doomed by Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos' 'ego tripping', according to his critics.
Critics called out Pima County Sheriff Nanos' handling of Nancy Guthrie's abduction case, which grows more urgent now that she's been missing for 19 days. Per theNew York Post, law enforcement sources say the FBI is desperate to take over the investigation, if only the Guthrie family would permit.
The criticism revolves around Nanos making a "spectacle" out of the press briefings, allegedly conducted for optics.
'The sheriff turned a serious investigation into a rolling spectacle, from questionable decisions to shifting narratives and a disastrous media cleanup tour that raised more questions than it answered,' an anonymous source told the outlet.
Sgt. Aaron Cross, Pima County Deputies Organisation President, is outspoken about Nanos' failings. Cross, who previously sued Nanos twice in U.S. District Court, questioned the Nanos' wasteful press engagements.
'If you're going to spend all day talking to media, instead you can do a one-hour press conference with someone capable of speaking clearly and professionally,' Cross asserted. An anonymous source said Nanos is more interested in "damage control" than discussing the actual merits of the case.
Retired Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith, spokesperson for the National Police Association, specified Nanos' lapses. 'As a law enforcement organisation, you have to communicate with the media,' she said. 'You can't just stop talking to them or piecemeal out information.'
Nanos addressed the backlash in an interview withFox 10 Phoenix, saying, 'Right now, our focus is on this investigation and serving the victims and this community. Internal or political commentary distracts from this active investigation, and it is very unfortunate. My focus remains on justice and transparency.'
In a 13 February press statement, President Donald Trump said the Pima County Sheriff's Department "didn't want to let go" of the case. 'It's up to them. It's really up to the communities,' he added. 'But ultimately, when the FBI got involved, I think, you know, progress has been made.'
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Pima County has access to federal government's "full resources." Nanos disagrees, asserting that his department was bypassed by a Florida lab that's been receiving evidence since the investigation started.
Source: International Business Times UK
