The sun-baked landscape of Pima County, Arizona, holds a quiet tension these days. A new television series, “Desert Law,” offers an unprecedented glimpse into the lives of the men and women who patrol its vast expanse, but the cameras captured footage against the backdrop of a deeply unsettling mystery: the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.
The ten-episode series, now airing, promises “elite access” to one of the nation’s largest sheriff’s departments. Crews followed patrol deputies, night detectives, and the DUI unit through the sweltering spring and summer months, documenting the realities of law enforcement in a region known for its unique challenges.
Recent episodes have focused on the realities of policing in a state with relatively lenient gun laws. One installment, titled “Weapons Found,” showcased deputies responding to a supermarket brawl where a pistol was brandished and a potential armed home invasion, highlighting the unpredictable nature of their work.
The timing of the show’s release is particularly poignant. The Pima County Sheriff’s Office is actively collaborating with the FBI in the search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC’s Savannah Guthrie. Her disappearance from her Tucson home in the early hours of February 1st is being investigated as a kidnapping.
The case has gripped the nation, and Savannah Guthrie has made a heartfelt plea for her mother’s safe return. In a moving video message, she directly addressed those who may be holding her mother, urging them to choose compassion and release her.
“It is never too late to do the right thing,” Guthrie implored, her voice filled with emotion. She expressed unwavering hope and a belief in the inherent goodness of humanity, extending a message of understanding to those involved.
While Sheriff Chris Nanos doesn’t appear on screen, he worked closely with the production team to ensure the series accurately reflected the daily lives of his deputies. The show offers a raw, unfiltered look at the challenges and dangers they face, a stark contrast to the desperate search unfolding for Nancy Guthrie.
The juxtaposition of the series’ portrayal of law and order with the unsettling uncertainty surrounding Guthrie’s fate casts a long shadow over Pima County. Every patrol, every investigation, now carries the weight of this missing woman and the hope for her safe return.
