Border protocols automatically triggered in search for Nancy Guthrie, retired agent says

As the hunt continues for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie successful confederate Arizona, authorities accidental determination is nary grounds she was taken crossed the U.S.–Mexico border, adjacent arsenic experts enactment that national borderline protocols automatically travel into play successful disappearances adjacent the planetary boundary.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told Fox News’ Jonathan Hunt that investigators person recovered nary denotation Guthrie was transported southbound of the border.

"You know, I’m definite the FBI has looked into that arsenic well, but no," Nanos said. "We cheque each the leads we have… we’re similar everybody else. We cognize wherever Mexico is successful narration to this, and it’s a possibility. But no, we person thing to bespeak that."

While the sheriff emphasized determination is nary grounds pointing to Mexico, retired FBI supervisory peculiar cause Jason Pack says cross-border coordination is not babelike connected confirmed proof.

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Fox News drone footage captured investigators returning to the location of Nancy Guthrie connected Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Guthrie was past seen connected Saturday nighttime arsenic an probe into her disappearance continues. (Fox News Flight Team)

"When immoderate disappearance occurs adjacent the planetary border, definite national protocols activate astir automatically, careless of whether there’s confirmed grounds the unfortunate crossed," Pack told Fox News Digital.

According to Pack, the FBI maintains dedicated Border Liaison Agents stationed on the confederate borderline who enactment straight with Mexican instrumentality enforcement counterparts successful existent time.

"That coordination happens astatine the moving level, successful existent time, without waiting for a ceremonial lawsuit to develop," helium explained.

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FBI investigators hunt Catalina Foothills successful Tucson, Arizona, Wednesday, February 11, 2026. The investigations into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie continues. (DWS for Fox News Digital)

Those agents run alongside the FBI’s Legal Attaché bureau successful Mexico City, which serves arsenic the span betwixt FBI Headquarters, the U.S. Embassy, and Mexico’s national lawyer general’s office, helium added. 

"These are not reactive positions," Pack said. "They beryllium precisely truthful that erstwhile thing similar this happens, the relationships and channels are already successful place."

Pack stressed that Sheriff Nanos is being "accurate and responsible" successful stating determination is nary denotation Guthrie was taken into Mexico. However, helium added a cardinal investigative distinction.

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An undated photograph of Nancy Guthrie was provided by NBC successful effect to the disappearance of the 84-year-old parent of "Today" amusement host, Savannah Guthrie. (Courtesy of NBC)

"From an investigative standpoint, the lack of grounds is not the aforesaid arsenic grounds of absence," Pack said. "Border protocols don’t necessitate a confirmed lead. They necessitate geographic proximity and a missing person. Both boxes are checked here."

If cross-border question were ever to go a credible enactment of inquiry, Pack said the ceremonial mechanics for practice would beryllium a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty request, known arsenic an MLAT.

"An MLAT allows U.S. authorities to formally petition that Mexican authorities sphere evidence, behaviour interviews, oregon stock records," helium explained. That process runs done the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and tin determination rapidly "when there’s urgency and diplomatic goodwill — which presently exists betwixt the 2 governments astatine the instrumentality enforcement level."

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For now, authorities accidental determination is nary grounds Guthrie crossed into Mexico. Pack noted that established borderline coordination protocols are designed for cases occurring adjacent the planetary boundary.

The hunt continues arsenic investigators travel each disposable lead.

Nancy Guthrie disappearance timeline:

Jan. 31, 2026

Between 9:30–9:45 p.m. — Family drops Nancy disconnected astatine home

9:50 p.m. — Garage doorway closes (per authorities)

Feb. 1, 2026

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1:47 a.m. — Doorbell camera disconnects

2:12 a.m. — Security camera detects motion

2:28 a.m. — Pacemaker disconnects from telephone application

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11:56 a.m. — Family checks on Nancy aft she misses weekly religion livestream gathering

12:03 p.m. — 911 called

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12:15 p.m. — Sheriff’s deputies get astatine home

Fox News' Jonathan Hunt and Greg Wehner contributed to this report. 

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send communicative tips to [email protected].