A former FBI agent believes that the decision not to call in civilian search experts in the hunt for Nancy Guthrie could signal that authorities are close to making an arrest.

Jennifer Coffindaffer speculated that it could be telling after United Cajun Navy, a volunteer-led search organization, revealed it had offered help to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department last week as the search for the missing 84-year-old reached the month mark — but never heard back.

Nancy Guthrie sitting at a table with Mahjong tiles and a reference card, smiling at the camera.
Nancy Guthrie has been missing for over a month.Courtesy NBC Universal

Surveillance image of a person in a balaclava with glowing eyes, holding flowers, under "Nest" in the top right corner.
A surveillance image of a suspect wanted in connection with Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.FBI

Savannah Guthrie wearing a black sweater and a gold pendant necklace.
“Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie returned to the set of the show after her mom went missing.Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
“Wondering why Sheriff Nanos keeps turning away proven very capable civilian search experts like EquuSearch and the real Cajun Navy?” Coffindaffer wrote on X.

“Is LE [law enforcement] close to an arrest and they know what happened to Nancy so they don’t want to waste the valuable resources of these groups? But why won’t the sheriff at least acknowledge these groups? Half glass full. Hoping LE is getting closer,” she wrote.