New 'Desert Law' TV Series Spotlights Pima County Sheriff's Office Amid Nancy Guthrie Case

10-episode series provides 'elite access' to Arizona sheriff's department as search for missing woman continues

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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A new 10-episode TV series titled 'Desert Law' is providing viewers with an inside look at the daily operations of the Pima County Sheriff's Office in Arizona, including the department's involvement in the ongoing search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC 'Today' show co-host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her Tucson home in early February.

Why it matters

The rollout of the 'Desert Law' series shines a spotlight on the Pima County Sheriff's Office at a time when the department is working closely with the FBI to investigate Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, which is being treated as an apparent kidnapping. The increased attention on the sheriff's office could aid in generating public awareness and tips related to the high-profile missing persons case.

The details

Filming for the first two seasons of 'Desert Law' took place in spring and summer 2025, following patrol deputies, night detectives, and the DUI unit as they respond to various incidents around Pima County. The most recent episode, 'Weapons Found,' featured deputies patrolling an area with 'some of the loosest gun laws in the country' and responding to incidents involving a pistol being drawn in a supermarket fight and a suspected armed home invasion.

  • The 10-episode 'Desert Law' series premiered on A&E in early January 2026.
  • Filming for the show's first and second seasons took place in spring and summer 2025.

The players

Pima County Sheriff's Office

One of the largest sheriff's departments in America, located in Tucson, Arizona, and the focus of the new 'Desert Law' TV series.

Chris Nanos

The sheriff of Pima County, Arizona, who worked closely with the producers of 'Desert Law' to coordinate filming with his deputies.

Nancy Guthrie

An 84-year-old woman who went missing from her Tucson home in the early morning hours of February 1, with the Pima County Sheriff's Office and FBI investigating the case as an apparent kidnapping.

Savannah Guthrie

The co-host of the NBC 'Today' show and the daughter of Nancy Guthrie, who has pleaded with her mother's suspected abductors to 'do the right thing' in an emotional social media video.

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What they’re saying

“I just wanted to come on and say that we still have hope, and we still believe. And I wanted to say to whoever has her or knows where she is. It's never too late. And you're not lost or alone. We believe in the essential goodness of every human being. And it's never too late.”

— Savannah Guthrie, NBC 'Today' show co-host (Social media)

What’s next

The Pima County Sheriff's Office and the FBI continue to work together in the search for Nancy Guthrie, with the investigation ongoing.

The takeaway

The 'Desert Law' TV series provides a rare inside look at the operations of the Pima County Sheriff's Office, which is currently at the center of the high-profile search for Nancy Guthrie. The increased attention on the department could aid in generating public awareness and tips related to the missing persons case.