Nancy Guthrie Still Missing as Sheriff Chris Nanos Faces Backlash Over 41-Page Search Plan He Has Not Acknowledged

It's been over two months since Nancy Guthrie went missing in February 2026, and the investigation into her disappearance has continued ever since. Local police, the FBI, and even witnesses have been involved in their efforts to find Savannah Guthrie's mother, but there has been little to no progress.

Meanwhile, Sheriff Chris Nanos, who was handling the case got accused of corrupting the investigation, delaying any meaningful progress in the case. Now, following his controversy, as a volunteer disaster response group expressed their interest in helping in the search for Guthrie, the Sheriff has yet to respond to their request.

Frustration is mounting within the United Cajun Navy as the volunteer group waits for approval. According to Fox News, they have submitted a detailed 41-page search plan to Nanos but have not yet received a response.

“I don't think there would be any harm. I think it would be one step closer to providing some closure not just to the family or the community, but to the nation.” Josh Gill, incident commander at UCN, told the outlet. But since they haven't received the official permission to assist, the group partnered with Cherise Wilson to push for a response from Nanos.

“We understand that the Pima County Sheriff's Department is conducting an investigation into this critical case. However, we are gravely concerned by reports indicating that your department has not yet approved or responded to the comprehensive 41-page operational plan submitted by the United Cajun Navy (UCN).” Wilson wrote in a Change.org petition.

Cherise Wilson has now started a petition to urge Chris Nanos to greenlight the rescue team in their desire to assist the police and FBI. According to Wilson’s petition, UCN is ready to “deploy significant resources, including dozens of specialized K-9 units and advanced drone technology” to help with Guthrie's disappearance case.

Wilson continued, “While we respect the need to maintain the integrity of an ongoing investigation, the refusal to integrate additional, specialized resources from experienced volunteer organizations like the United Cajun Navy is causing considerable public concern.”

Meanwhile, Sheriff Chris Nanos has yet to acknowledge UCN’s 41-page operational plan. Despite the volunteer group's desire to help, as the group remains prepared to deploy its resources to bring some progress to Guthrie's case, Nanos seems unfazed by it all. The lack of response has deepened criticism of the sheriff.

Previously, the Sheriff was accused of releasing the crime scene too quickly, thus letting reporters approach Guthrie's home within 48 hours while blood stains were still visible on the porch. In addition, he also faced backlash for giving conflicting information during press conferences and interviews.

Reports from RadarOnline also suggest that Sheriff Nanos was also accused of sparking an alleged “turf war” with the FBI over evidence handling. According to reports, he sent crucial DNA evidence to a private Florida lab his department was contracted with, while reportedly sidelining the FBI's Quantico facility.

“This is the lowest I've seen it. There’s a lot of embarrassment. Especially with the news, kind of, conversations that they’ve had with Nanos, his interaction with the media. I would say that he ruined a great department. It’s savable if he steps aside.” an insider shared. Therefore, calls for accountability are now growing louder for Nanos.

At such a critical time while facing calls for him to step aside, the UCN has urged the Sheriff to approve their plan and allow them to help with the investigation. But it remains to be seen if Nanos authorizes the volunteer group.