India, May 10 -- Dave Smith, a retired lieutenant with the Arizona Department of Public Safety and a law enforcement consultant, told Fox News Digital that authorities may have downplayed alleged Mexico ties in the Nancy Guthrie case to keep feds off it. This comes after FBI Director Kash Patel alleged that the FBI was "kept out of the investigation" for days.

Smith noted that the man who was caught on surveillance footage from Nancy's Nest doorbell camera appeared to be wearing his holstered pistol "Mexican carry" style.

"My first thought is always Mexico in a major crime, because it's a great haven, and it's hard for us to follow up on," Smith said. "But in this case, obviously there was somebody was taken with intent. And I think tha...