Tucson, Arizona — Friction has emerged between federal and local authorities investigating the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, as questions mount over access to key evidence in one of the nation’s most closely watched kidnapping cases.

Guthrie, 84, disappeared from her Tucson-area home in late January under what investigators describe as suspicious and violent circumstances. Authorities found blood at the residence and evidence suggesting she was taken against her will, prompting the involvement of the Federal Bureau of Investigation alongside the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

In recent days, law-enforcement sources indicated that the FBI sought access to physical evidence — including gloves, DNA samples, and surveillance materials — for testing at its national crime laboratory in Quantico, Virginia. However, Sheriff Chris Nanos has faced scrutiny after opting to send certain items to a private forensic lab in Florida instead.

The sheriff has denied allegations that his office is obstructing federal investigators, stating that the decision was made to streamline testing and maintain consistency by using a single laboratory already assisting the case. He emphasized that cooperation with federal partners remains ongoing.

Meanwhile, the FBI has intensified its search efforts. Agents released surveillance images of a masked suspect seen near Guthrie’s home and provided a physical description based on forensic analysis of doorbell-camera footage. The individual is believed to be a man of average build, approximately 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, carrying a black Ozark Trail backpack.

Federal officials have also increased the reward for information leading to Guthrie’s location or an arrest to $100,000, reflecting the urgency of the investigation as tips from the public continue to pour in.

Despite reported investigative disagreements, both agencies say the case remains active and collaborative. Search operations, forensic analysis, and surveillance reviews are ongoing as authorities work to identify the suspect and locate Guthrie.

As the inquiry continues, the case underscores the complex coordination required in major abduction investigations — where jurisdictional boundaries, forensic control, and investigative strategy can become as critical as the evidence itself.