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Cops investigating Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance have faced a setback, but one crime expert believes that doesn’t mean progress isn’t being made.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Despite the lack of a DNA match, however, officials have said Nancy’s family members have been cleared as possible suspects.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said, “The family has been nothing but co-operative and gracious and are victims in this case. To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Amid the suspect update, crime expert Robynne Jeisman spoke with The Express US to say it does show a positive in the investigation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
“It\u2019s clarifying that the family have been cleared as suspects. Progress is happening,” Robynne, founder of Turntable, a non-profit organisation working in anti-human trafficking and gang violence prevention, told us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
She added, “Family needs to be considered just as any one, and can take longer as they\u2019re closer to the situation.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Suggesting a reason as to why it took so long for the family to be cleared as suspects, Robynne said, “Families involved or not with each other (and typically they are) have many layers of complexity due to emotions, finance, access to everyday life information, as well as aging parents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
“It takes longer to determine the ins and outs due to the intricate nature of family. Loyalty, the influence of grief on human behavior and personal approach to these circumstances all play a part.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
While Nancy’s family members have been cleared as suspects, Robynne made it clear that this “doesn\u2019t necessarily mean they are closing in on another suspect.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Instead, she said it does “simplify the options.” The expert also said removing the family as suspects is “helpful to solving the case.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Sheriff Nanos released a statement on Monday, February 16, announcing that Nancy’s family aren’t suspects. In it, he said, “To be clear\u2026the Guthrie family \u2013 to include all siblings and spouses \u2013 has been cleared as possible suspects in this case.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
“The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are victims in this case. To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
“The Guthrie family are victims plain and simple\u2026please, I’m begging you the media to honor your profession and report with some sense of compassion and professionalism.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n