FBI Director Says Arizona Police Mishandled Missing Person Case

FBI Director Kash Patel criticized local law enforcement officials in Arizona for their handling of the investigation into the disappearance of an 84-year-old woman.

The Disappearance Nancy Guthrie was last seen on January 31 at her home near Tucson. She was reported missing the following day after a friend contacted the family. Investigators believe she was taken from the home against her will. A reward of more than $1.2 million has been offered for information leading to her recovery.

On the May 5 episode of Sean Hannity's podcast, Patel said the FBI was kept out of the case for four days. He stated that once involved the bureau obtained doorbell camera video by contacting Google leadership directly. Patel also said the FBI offered to send DNA evidence to its laboratory in Quantico but that local officials instead sent it to a private lab in Florida.

Nanos said a member of an FBI task force was present at the scene the night the missing report was received. The department stated that coordination with the bureau began without delay. The sheriff's office added that decisions on evidence processing were made based on operational needs and that the local lab and the FBI laboratory in Quantico have collaborated from the start.

Patel has faced separate criticism over his conduct in recent months. The Atlantic published an article in April detailing concerns about his absences and drinking. The FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson denied reports of a criminal leak investigation targeting the Atlantic journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick who wrote the story.

“This is completely false. No such investigation like this exists and the reporter you mention is not being investigated at all.”

“If confirmed to be true, this would represent an outrageous attack on the free press and the First Amendment itself.”