Former prosecutor Nancy Grace addressed the unsolved disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie during an appearance on "Hang Out with Sean Hannity," a new podcast hosted by Fox News personality Sean Hannity. Grace raised concerns about how the Pima County Sheriff's Department handled the early stages of the investigation into what authorities have described as a suspected abduction from Guthrie's Tucson, Arizona, home.

Grace connected the case to the 1979 murder of her fiancé, Keith Griffin, criticized Sheriff Chris Nanos for releasing the crime scene before FBI involvement, and expressed deep empathy for the Guthrie family — including "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie — while arguing that early investigative failures may have compromised the search for the missing woman.

The case has drawn national attention partly because of Savannah Guthrie's high-profile career as a television journalist. Nancy Guthrie's disappearance was first reported in early February 2026, with an aerial photo of her Tucson home dated Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. That same day, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos provided an update on the investigation into her disappearance.

Crime Scene Released Before FBI Was Called In

Grace took particular issue with the timeline of the investigation. According to her account on the podcast, the sheriff's department released the crime scene back to the family before the FBI was brought into the case days later. During that gap, delivery drivers and journalists reportedly walked up to the front door, dropping off parcels and taking photographs.

"By destroying the crime scene and by releasing the crime scene too early, they destroyed a lot of evidence," Grace said. She added that characterizing these failures as minor errors understated their severity.

"People called them 'missteps,' that is certainly putting perfume on the pig, isn't it? That's a euphemism, 'missteps' — they're screw-ups. The feds wouldn't have done that," Grace told Hannity.

Sheriff Spotted at Basketball Game During Critical Moment

Grace and Hannity also highlighted what they described as a troubling contrast in priorities. While the special agent in charge of the FBI's Phoenix office was reportedly with the Guthrie family filming a video response to a ransom demand that authorities considered potentially credible, Sheriff Nanos was seen at an Arizona Wildcats basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026.

"I don't like attacking the actual men and women who are doing the work. The fish stinks at the head, Sean. It's Nanos. He stinks. He's gotta go," Grace said. She quickly added, however, "But that's a distraction to finding Nancy Guthrie."

Hannity also noted that once the FBI became involved, agents worked with Google to recover imagery from Nancy Guthrie's missing Nest doorbell camera — footage the sheriff's department had been unable to obtain. Photos released on Feb. 10, 2026, provided by the FBI, show a "subject" on Guthrie's property.

Savannah Guthrie's Emotional First Interview

Last week, Savannah Guthrie gave her first televised interview about her mother's disappearance alongside colleague Hoda Kotb. During that conversation, Savannah reportedly expressed guilt, acknowledging that her fame and financial success may have made her mother a target. Hannity pushed back on that notion during his podcast.

"That's not her fault. Are we supposed to stop living our lives because there's evil in this world?" Hannity said. Grace agreed, noting that families of crime victims do not have a prepared response for such devastating circumstances.

Grace said that watching Savannah Guthrie's anguish reminded her of her own loss decades earlier. She recalled Savannah's words — "Oh, Mommy, Mommy, I'm sorry. I am sorry," — and said the moment that took her back to her darkest days. "It took me right back to that moment — those horrible moments — when I was lying there in the dark, feeling like howling, because there just were no words," Grace said. On March 2, Savannah Guthrie, her sister Annie Guthrie, and Annie's husband Tommaso Cioni were photographed laying flowers at their mother's Tucson home.

A Personal Tragedy That Shaped a Career

Grace revealed that her connection to the case runs deeper than professional interest. In 1979, while on summer break from college, her fiancé, Keith Griffin, was murdered. Griffin, who was 23 years old, had taken a summer construction job. According to Grace, the attacker had been fired from that same crew before Griffin started working there. Griffin went to pick up drinks for co-workers, driving the company truck and wearing the owner's jacket, when the assailant opened fire.

"The guy came up and just opened fire and shot Keith five times in the face, the neck, the head, and the back," Grace recounted. After Griffin's death, Grace dropped out of school. She eventually returned, driven by a desire to advocate for other crime victims.

Grace went on to prosecute violent crimes in Atlanta for a decade before becoming one of the most recognized voices in true crime media. "When I would be tired or weary, just as when I was prosecuting, I would think about Keith just looking at me with those big, blue eyes, and I would know it was my duty," she said. Hannity responded simply: "That's your calling." The full episode of the podcast is scheduled to air at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Lessons to Learn

1. The integrity of a crime scene is critical to any investigation. Once a scene is released prematurely, evidence can be contaminated or lost permanently. Families and communities should be aware that pressing law enforcement to preserve scenes and involve federal resources early can make a meaningful difference in outcomes.

2. Home security technology, such as doorbell cameras, can serve as a vital source of evidence. In this case, the FBI's ability to work with Google to recover Nest camera footage underscores the importance of having connected security systems and understanding how stored data can be accessed when needed most.

3. Public figures and their families may face unique risks, but no one should be blamed for becoming a victim of crime. As Hannity noted, people should not have to stop living their lives because criminals exist. No matter what precautions are taken, crime can happen to anyone, and responsibility always lies with the perpetrator — never the victim.

Why This Story Matters

The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie is not just a national news story because of her daughter's fame — it is a case that raises serious questions about local law enforcement accountability and the consequences of mishandled investigations. When a crime scene is compromised in the earliest hours, the effects ripple through the entire case, potentially affecting whether a missing person is found alive and whether justice is ultimately served. This story matters because it highlights the importance of proper investigative protocols, the value of federal cooperation, and the enduring toll that violent crime takes on families and communities long after headlines fade.

In summary, Nancy Grace used her appearance on Sean Hannity's podcast to criticize Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos for releasing the crime scene at Nancy Guthrie's Tucson home before the FBI was brought into the suspected abduction case. She pointed to the loss of evidence, the sheriff's appearance at a basketball game during a critical investigative moment, and the FBI's subsequent success in recovering doorbell camera footage as evidence of leadership failures. Grace also shared how the case reminded her of her fiancé Keith Griffin's 1979 murder, a tragedy that propelled her into a career prosecuting violent crimes and advocating for victims.