Nancy Guthrie Update: FBI Reportedly Contacts Mexico Hours After Sheriff Downplays Border Theory
A new report claims that the FBI has contacted Mexican federal law enforcement in the ongoing investigation into Nancy Guthrie's kidnapping. That story broke only hours after Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos stated that there was no indication that she had been taken over the border. The report and the sheriff's interview come after many observers have theorized that Guthrie may have been forecefully taken to Mexico.
FBI Contacts Mexican Authorities in Nancy Guthrie Case
Photo by Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images
On February 18, 2026, TMZ reported, citing inside sources, about what could become a major update in the Nancy Guthrie case. According to the outlet, the FBI has contacted Mexico's federal law enforcement officials regarding the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mom. Additionally, investigators have been sharing details with several Mexican police agencies, but the contacts haven't led to any solid leads yet.
Since Nancy Guthrie's home is located roughly 60 miles away from the Mexican border, there has been a lot of online conjecture that the kidnapper could have taken her across it.
For example, the X user @DavidB92801 theorized about how Guthrie could have been taken across the border. "She could have been smuggled to Mexico in tunnels— and investigators have to consider both city and rural locations across many states, including US/Mexico."
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos: No Indication Nancy Guthrie Was Taken to Mexico
On February 17, 2026, Fox News interviewed Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos about the Nancy Guthrie case. During that discussion, the Arizona law enforcement official gave several updates on the case. For example, he stated his belief that Guthrie was targeted, and he debunked the claim that the suspect list had been narrowed. Additionally, he addressed the theory that she'd been taken over the Mexican border by saying there was no reason to think that had happened.
“You know, I’m sure the FBI has looked into that as well, but no. We check all the leads we have…we’re like everybody else. We know where Mexico is in relationship to this, and it’s a possibility. But no, we have nothing to indicate that.”
It is important to note that Nanos' comment and TMZ's report don't contradict each other. Instead, the new report about the FBI contacting Mexican authorities aligns with Nanos' stated belief that they would look into that possibility. Furthermore, the report also underscores that the various law enforcement agencies involved in the Guthrie case are exhausting all possible leads.