A retired detective believes investigators already have the suspects’ names as the search for Nancy Guthrie reaches 113 days.
Robbie Mayer, a former detective with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department who helped crack Tucson’s “Prime Time Rapist” case in 1986, thinks investigators in the Guthrie case are working through thousands of leads, much like his own team did nearly 40 years ago.
“We ended up with more than 4,000 leads,” Mayer told  News 4 Tucson. “One of the detectives had Larriva’s name as a lead, but he hadn’t gotten to it yet because he had so many leads in front of that.”
The retired detective believes the same could be true for the Guthrie case.
“I believe the suspect’s names are in those 50,000,” Mayer said. “The question is if they can recognize it when they see it. Being in a case like this is like being in a field with rocks, and what you’re looking for is under one rock. You just have to keep turning.”
Nancy Guthrie Update: Investigation Focuses on Digital Evidence, Says Sheriff Chris Nanos
Earlier this month, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told PEOPLE that investigators in the Nancy Guthrie case are now focusing on analyzing digital evidence, including “thousands and thousands” of videos.
“Right now, I think our focus is on the tips, the leads and the evidence we have in front of us,” Nanos told the outlet. “Digitally â the camera footages as well as biological, the DNA and those types of things.”
In addition, investigators are reportedly waiting for advances in DNA analysis.
“I know we have DNA that is unknown who the contributor or depositor is, but I think theyâre getting closer to finding out who that was,” Nanos added. “When the labs tell us, ‘Hey, there’s nothing else we can do,’ well, then maybe we’ve got a problem⦠we’ve got a cold case⦠but right now, the labs aren’t telling us that.”
Retired Detective Believes FBI Will Crack the Case
Meanwhile, Mayer also expressed his optimism about the Nancy Guthrie case, noting that the teams working on it have the drive they need.
“This case is so unique. Most of the time we try and find patterns. We can’t in this case,” the retired detective continued. “These guys came prepared not to leave hair or DNA. Look at how that guy was clothed. They turned off their cell phones.”
He added, “This is a very high-caliber investigation, and I think the FBI is gonna crack the case.”
Previously, Nanos told PEOPLEÂ that the FBI is now leading communications with “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie and her siblings regarding the case. While he may no longer be in direct contact with the Guthrie family, he remains in charge of the investigation.
“The public is frustrated. Even the Guthrie family,” Nanos told the outlet. “Every passing second must feel like 100 days because they don’t know. What matters is moving forward carefully so we don’t make mistakes or falsely accuse somebody or make a bad arrest.”
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