A tense search for missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie in Tucson,Arizonatook an unexpected turn when a pizza delivery driver walked straight to her front door, a location that has been cordoned off as an active crime scene.
The incident, captured on video and widely shared online, prompted the Pima County Sheriff's Department to publicly rebuke members of the media stationed outside Guthrie's home. Authorities stressed that ordering food to the address was not only inappropriate but also 'interferes with an active investigation.'
Footage posted by ABC15 journalist Ford Hatchett showed a Domino's driver approaching Guthrie's front door before realising the delivery was misplaced. Hatchett wrote: 'Never seen something quite like this. A Domino's delivery driver just walked all the way up to Nancy Guthrie's front door trying to deliver a pizza. Walking out now. Believe it was intended for someone in the media along the street.'
Never seen something quite like this.A Domino’s delivery driver just walked all the way up to Nancy Guthrie’s front door trying to deliver a pizza. Walking out now. Believe it was intended for someone in the media along the street.pic.twitter.com/u9GB2Gwptz
He later clarified that the delivery was ordered for an independent journalist livestreaming from the scene, @JLRINVESTIGATES, by one of his viewers.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department has called out the media and urged reporters at Guthrie's home to refrain from having food delivered to the address. They posted on X: 'We can't believe we have to say this, but media on the scene: please do not order food delivery to a crime scene address. This interferes with an active investigation.' The department also reminded reporters to respect private property laws.
We can’t believe we have to say this, but media on scene: please do not order food delivery to a crime scene address. This interferes with an active investigation. Please also respect private property laws. Thank you.
Some journalists criticised law enforcement for failing to secure the property.NewsNationcorrespondent Brian Entin reported: 'A pizza delivery person showed up and was able to walk the pizza all the way to the front door, even with the deputies sitting out here. I don't know why the deputies apparently didn't notice that person because they're trying to keep people from going into the property.' He added that people were shocked that a delivery driver can just walk into a crime scene.
Another journalist fromNewsNation, Katie Pavlich reposted the Sheriff's statement, calling it 'clownish' and 'a disgrace.' She argued that the department had removed the crime scene tape from the property, allowing contamination, before reinstating barriers.
A pizza delivery worker was able to walk up to the front door of Nancy Guthrie's home without being stopped by police, according to NewsNation's@BrianEntin: "People are just kind of shocked."More:https://t.co/bLRtdwG2wqpic.twitter.com/02RYwJWc7k
Source: International Business Times UK
