Additional Coverage:
- Pima County supervisors move to oust sheriff leading Nancy Guthrie kidnapping probe over perjury claims (foxnews.com)
TUCSON, Ariz. – The sheriff overseeing the investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Nancy Guthrie is now facing mounting pressure to resign. Allegations have surfaced accusing Sheriff Chris Nanos of misrepresenting his past disciplinary record from his time as a police officer in Texas during the 1970s and 1980s.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, is the mother of NBC “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie. Her unresolved abduction has thrust Pima County’s law enforcement into the national spotlight. Sheriff Nanos has been leading the search for over three months, all while navigating lawsuits from current and former deputies and a public feud with the FBI.
Two members of the county’s five-person Board of Supervisors-Dr. Matt Heinz, a Democrat, and Steve Christy, the board’s sole Republican-have announced plans to push for Nanos to be removed from office.
They cite concerns over Nanos’ credibility following revelations that he allegedly lied under oath about having no suspensions during his tenure with the El Paso Police Department. Public records suggest otherwise, showing multiple suspensions and a resignation amid disciplinary issues.
“This is about accountability for a man who has dodged it for decades and now poses a risk to public safety,” said Dr. Heinz.
While the board does not have sweeping authority over the sheriff, who is an elected official, they can pursue action under an 1873 Arizona law. Sheriff Nanos reportedly missed a deadline to answer questions under oath from the board, prompting calls for his office to be vacated if he does not resign voluntarily.
Supervisor Christy emphasized that if Nanos fails to step down before the upcoming board meeting, he will support efforts to remove him. The legal wrangling has also forced both sides to retain outside counsel, increasing costs to taxpayers.
The controversy intensified after a deposition in a lawsuit filed by the county deputies union president revealed Nanos’ sworn claim that he had never been suspended-a statement contradicted by El Paso police records. According to those records, Nanos faced multiple suspensions for issues such as tardiness, violations of department rules, off-duty conduct, and negligent firearm discharge. He resigned in 1982 following a dispute over a towing incident, choosing resignation over a three-day suspension.
Sheriff Nanos’ attorney framed the resignation as a voluntary step taken to avoid disciplinary action, though critics argue the records reflect a resignation in lieu of termination.
Despite declining to testify in person, Nanos submitted a notarized statement affirming the accuracy of his account, but the board may still refer the matter for prosecution of perjury.
As the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapping continues, tensions between the sheriff’s office and the FBI have flared publicly. The FBI has criticized the sheriff’s department for delaying federal involvement and for sending a key DNA sample to a private lab in Florida rather than the FBI’s Quantico facility, which has further strained collaboration.
FBI Director Kash Patel recently expressed frustration that his agents were kept “out of the investigation” for several days, while Sheriff Nanos maintains that the FBI has been involved from the start and that a county detective serves as a liaison to the FBI Joint Task Force.
With more than $1.2 million in combined rewards for information leading to Guthrie’s recovery, the family continues to urge the public to come forward. Meanwhile, county officials and residents await the Board of Supervisors’ next move amid growing calls for leadership changes in a case that has captured national attention but remains unsolved after more than three months.