Nancy Guthrie Update: Major New Search Plans Emerge

New details about a 41-page search plan in the Nancy Guthrie case that would use thermal drones, 25 specialized canines, and coordinated desert grid sweeps have surfaced. However, the plan to help find evidence related to the kidnapping of Savannah Guthrie's mother has yet to receive approval from the Pima County Sheriff's Department, which it requires to move forward.

Nancy Guthrie Latest: What the 41-Page Operational Plan Includes

Brian Entin is a senior correspondent for NewsNation who also runs a YouTube channel under his own name. He has extensively reported on the Nancy Guthrie case and spent extensive time in Tucson, Arizona, to follow leads. During a March 4, 2026, video on his YouTube channel, Entin revealed that he'd gained access to a United Cajun Navy proposal that was submitted to outline a search plan meant to help the Guthrie investigation. "I actually got my hands on their operational plan that they submitted to the sheriff's office... It's in-depth. It goes for 41 pages."

Entin went on to list the potential resources that the volunteer group was offering to deploy to help investigators with their search. While the proposal's existence had been reported on before, this was the first time that its details had been publicly revealed. "Operational resources include thermal drone operations, HRD land and water canine teams, track, trail, and scent-specific canines, ground search volunteers… They have like, 25 canines that they could bring in, including cadaver dogs… They've got all sorts of detail in here, drone operators, canine handlers, a lot of retired law enforcement… aerial reconnaissance, thermal sweeps… ground grid searches. They have a ton of drones…"

Just as importantly, Entin detailed that the plan called for all operations to be conducted under instruction from the Pima County Sheriff's Department (PCSD). The outline also made it clear that no statements would be made to the press without approval from the department.

"Presented to Pima County Sheriff's Office. And then it says, 'Purpose: provide structured search support under PCSO authority, operate under PCSO command and control, evidence preservation priority, no independent operational authority.' So, they seem to really be trying to make the point that they do not want to just do their own thing. They really want the sheriff to sign off... What I thought was interesting though, was media protocol... no independent press releases, all media approved by PCSO, family sensitivity priority."

Why the Sheriff Has Not Approved the Search Plan Yet

Until Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos explicitly states why he hasn't approved the United Cajun Navy plan to help the search, there is no way to know for sure what led to that decision. What is clear is that Brian Entin stated in his YouTube video that he'd been given a statement from the Pima County Sheriff's Department on volunteer search groups. The message had also previously been shared on the PCSD's X account more than a week earlier.

"Private Search Parties: Volunteer search groups have inquired about being in the area. Per the Sheriff, they were asked to please give investigators the space they need to do their work. We appreciate their concern, and we all want to find Nancy, but this work is best left to professionals. PCSD has volunteer opportunities if they wish to get involved with the department. Private property laws apply, and it is up to each individual property owner to grant permission for someone to search their property."

Private Search Parties: Volunteer search groups have inquired about being in the area. Per the Sheriff, they were asked to please give investigators the space they need to do their work. 1/3

— Pima County Sheriff's Department (@PimaSheriff) February 21, 2026

A Dutch study from 2024 provided information on why law enforcement officials often are wary of involving citizen search groups in their investigations. It pointed to concerns about safety, evidence destruction, and losing control of search areas as primary motivations for discouraging outsiders from joining in searches.

Still, during the same YouTube video, Brian Entin interviewed Sergeant Aaron Cross, president of the Pima County Deputies Organization, who expressed why he thought Nanos should agree to this search plan. "There's certainly a lot of desert area that they could be useful, I think… more bodies and more help is always better than less." However, it is important to note that Cross stated that the call was Nanos' to make, and he was only expressing his own opinion.

A NewsNation report on the United Cajun Navy plan notes that the team behind it hasn't received a response to their proposal in over a week. A KVOA Tucson report on the proposal says the group is ready to assist the investigation if approval is granted.