Story perspectives

Kash Patel Accuses Sheriff of Concealing DNA Evidence, FBI Involved.

5/7/2026

Left

Patel Accuses FBI

Kash Patel aired his accusation on Sean Hannity’s Fox News podcast, alleging the sheriff’s office concealed the case.
The FBI was ready to ship DNA evidence to Quantico as part of the investigation, Patel said.
Nanos asserted the FBI had participated from day one of the missing-person search.
Patel warned earlier FBI involvement might have secured critical evidence more quickly, highlighting accountability concerns.

Right

Patel Ships DNA

Camera footage showed a masked, gloved driver in a pickup near Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home, echoing her grandmother’s kidnapping suspect.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the bureau is prepared to ship DNA evidence from the case to Quantico.
Deputies seized a grey Range Rover from a neighbor’s garage after pulling over two vehicles.
Investigators collected at least 16 black gloves for DNA testing, but none matched a suspect.

Center

Blanche Denies Friction

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche denied reports of friction between FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department in Guthrie case.
84-year-old Nancy Guthrie vanished from Tucson home on February 1, 2026, with security video showing a masked person at the front door.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency was ready to ship DNA evidence to Quantico.
Sheriff’s office sent DNA to a Florida lab, prompting criticism of Sheriff Chris Nanos’s progress.

History

Historical Context

Rapid DNA began with Palm Bay, Florida receiving the first commercial RapidHIT 200 unit in 2012, proving that booking-station profiling could feed CODIS. President Donald Trump’s 2017 Rapid DNA Act then amended the 1994 DNA Identification Act, permitting non-lab generated profiles to be uploaded. The 2018 Camp Fire used three Rapid ANDE instruments, cementing rapid DNA’s role in nationwide investigations.

1 of 4

Patel Accuses FBI

Kash Patel aired his accusation on Sean Hannity’s Fox News podcast, alleging the sheriff’s office concealed the case.
The FBI was ready to ship DNA evidence to Quantico as part of the investigation, Patel said.
Nanos asserted the FBI had participated from day one of the missing-person search.
Patel warned earlier FBI involvement might have secured critical evidence more quickly, highlighting accountability concerns.

1 / 4