Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie Sparks Alarm Over Fragmented Law Enforcement Efforts
Retired New York City Police Department Chief John Chell has described reports of friction between federal and local investigators probing the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie as “very disturbing.”
Chell stated that multiple crime scenes appear to be “trampled on,” a situation he called unprecedented. He noted that 13,000 tips have been received in the past 13 days since Nancy Guthrie went missing. The chief highlighted that investigators are analyzing a doorbell video showing a potential suspect and have identified the bag in question but are awaiting DNA results from gloves.
Chell criticized local authorities for sending evidence directly to their own unit rather than to the FBI laboratory at Quantico, calling it “not normal.” He emphasized the critical need for coordinated effort: “Who’s got all the evidence? How is it being accounted for? Who is running with each piece of evidence?” Chell warned that such disorganization risks delaying justice and exposing the investigation to unnecessary complications.
He also expressed concern over compromised crime scenes, noting video footage shows deliveries in the area that have damaged scene integrity. “That crime scene is law enforcement’s crime scene,” he said. “You want to appease the media? I got it, I’ve been there a million times.”
Chell added that while such cases often move more slowly than the public expects, the current state of the investigation remains alarming given the ongoing nature of the case and the potential for further complications.
