An Arizona sheriff is preventing the FBI from obtaining crucial evidence in the investigation into the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of television journalist Savannah Guthrie, limiting the bureau’s ability to assist in the case, a U.S. law enforcement official familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

According to the official, the FBI requested that Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos transfer physical evidence — including a glove and DNA samples recovered from the Tucson home of the 84-year-old victim — to the FBI’s national crime laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, for testing. Nanos, however, has opted to have the materials examined by a private forensic lab in Florida instead.

The decision to send the evidence to a Florida contractor, rather than to the FBI, has effectively restricted federal access to key materials and slowed the bureau’s involvement in the case, the official said.

A representative for the sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to an emailed request from Reuters seeking comment.

Earlier in the day, the sheriff’s department issued a routine press update stating that investigators had “recovered several items of evidence, including gloves,” and noted that all viable evidence is submitted for analysis.” No additional details were provided.

Under the law, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office holds primary jurisdiction over the investigation, and federal authorities can only participate if the county formally requests assistance. The official said that approximately $200,000 has already been spent by the county to send evidence in the Guthrie case to the Florida laboratory.

“It risks further slowing a case that grows more urgent by the minute,” the official told Reuters, referencing unspecified “earlier setbacks” in the investigation.

The same official also expressed concern that the sheriff’s office did not seek FBI support at an earlier stage of the inquiry.

“It’s clear the fastest path to answers is leveraging federal resources and technology. Anything less only prolongs the Guthrie family’s grief and the community’s wait for justice,” the official said.

Strains between federal authorities and local law enforcement have become more visible as the search for Nancy Guthrie entered its 12th day, with investigators stepping up efforts to uncover evidence in what is believed to be a kidnapping for ransom.

Authorities said Nancy Guthrie was last seen on January 31 after relatives dropped her off at her home following dinner. Family members reported her missing the next day.

The sheriff has stated that Guthrie had severely limited mobility and could not have left her residence on her own, leading investigators to determine early in the case that she was likely taken by force.

Officials disclosed last week that blood discovered on her front porch was confirmed through DNA testing to belong to Guthrie. Law enforcement and family members have described her as frail and dependent on daily medication.

Since her disappearance, at least two alleged ransom notes have surfaced. Both were initially sent to media outlets and included deadlines that have since passed. Authorities have not reported receiving any proof of life.

Savannah Guthrie, 54, co-anchor of NBC News’ morning program “Today,” has released several video messages alongside her siblings, urging those responsible for their mother’s disappearance to return her safely. She has also appealed to the public for assistance and indicated a willingness to comply with ransom demands.

On Wednesday, investigators released doorbell camera footage from Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson-area home. The video shows an armed individual wearing a ski mask and gloves attempting to disable the camera at approximately the time authorities believe Guthrie was abducted.

A former FBI agent said investigators were likely hoping to apply facial recognition tools to the footage to generate a composite image that could be compared against a national database of U.S. drivers holding RealID licenses.

Law enforcement officials also revealed Thursday that a black latex glove discarded along a roadside had been recovered and was undergoing forensic testing.

That same day, the FBI increased its reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s location or to the arrest and conviction of those responsible, raising the amount to $100,000.