A desert wash near Nancy Guthrie's Tucson home is posing a major challenge for investigators, according to retired lieutenant Dave Smith. The natural drainage ditch is thick with dense brush, making it difficult to see surrounding homes, some of which cost seven figures.
Smith explained that while the terrain can make good hiding places, rain can quickly wash away evidence, making it 'transitory.'
He also expressed concerns that authorities may have downplayed alleged Mexico ties in the case to keep the feds off it. Smith noted that the man caught on surveillance footage appeared to be wearing his holstered pistol 'Mexican carry' style.
Smith's personal theory is that if Mexico was suspected, it would have made it a federal investigation, and the effort to keep the feds out may have been to deny any possibility of interstate or international transport of the person's body or kidnapped.
The neighborhood is just about 60 miles from the border town of Nogales, making it easier to blend in, according to Smith.
