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Bryan Sullivan Discusses the Likelihood of a Lawsuit Concerning Nancy Guthrie’s Kidnapping
Bryan Sullivan recently spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the likelihood of a successful lawsuit if Nancy Guthrie’s family decides to pursue legal action against law enforcement over numerous unresolved questions and potential missteps in her kidnapping investigation. The article “Does Guthrie Family Have Grounds to Sue Pima County Over Alleged Investigation Missteps?” outlines the probability of a successful lawsuit through an examination of the case thus far.
On February 1, 2026, Nancy Guthrie, mother of The Today Show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was taken from her Tucson home. Upon her kidnapping, the Guthrie family operated closely with federal and state law enforcement, publicly appreciating their investigative measures. Nancy Guthrie is now pronounced dead, and over the past six months, law enforcement has failed to uncover a suspect or a serious person of interest. While many believe the Guthries only want their mother’s remains returned to them, the Wall Street Journal’s recently published article showcased the shortcomings of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, prompting many to question whether the family might sue.
Bryan shares that he believes a theoretical lawsuit’s success is “highly unlikely.” He continues on to emphasize the difficulty in bringing cases against law enforcement.
“It’s very, very difficult to sue law enforcement for failing to investigate, or basic negligence,” he tells The Hollywood Reporter.
The article also addresses the ransom notes assumed to be from Nancy’s kidnapper, which included a Bitcoin demand and deadlines for more considerable payouts. Typically, law enforcement is against paying out ransom, leaving many to wonder whether the Guthries were advised not to pay.
Bryan illustrates how this aspect would affect a potential lawsuit, highlighting that in a court of law, it would not satisfy a burden of fault if the Guthries were advised not to pay. He explains that in a case such as this one, law enforcement is equipped with “qualified immunity” as long as they were “acting in good faith.”
“The police are exercising their best judgment,” Bryan concludes. “Sometimes they’re wrong.”