Sheriff Defends Bungled Search for Nancy Guthrie, Says He Has 'No Regrets'
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has publicly declared he has 'no regrets' about his handling of the search for abducted grandmother Nancy Guthrie, despite the investigation failing to locate the 84-year-old or arrest any suspects. In an interview published Tuesday by News4 Tucson, Nanos remained unapologetic about the unsolved case that has drawn national attention.
Defiant Statements Amid Mounting Criticism
'Look, I have no regrets about my team and their efforts,' Nanos stated emphatically. When questioned whether the search 'went the way you wanted it to go,' the sheriff responded: 'Yes absolutely.' He brushed off allegations that he mishandled the crime scene at Guthrie's Tucson, Arizona home or botched the investigation, suggesting that extensive media coverage may have confused the investigative process.
'I don’t regret we let the crime scene go too soon or any of that,' Nanos said dismissively. 'That's just silly.' The sheriff added that investigators continue to pursue leads, examining cell tower data and analyzing Guthrie's cell phone in hopes of breakthroughs.
Appeal to Abductors and Investigation Details
In a message directed at Guthrie's abductors, Nanos appeared to indicate he believes she may still be alive, telling suspects: 'Just give her up. Just let her go. Just take her to a clinic, a hospital, drop her off... just let her go.'
Nancy Guthrie was taken from her home on the night of February 1. Surveillance footage from her doorbell camera showed a masked suspect appearing to break into her property. Investigators discovered key evidence including blood droplets at her door and several gloves around her home, but authorities were unable to link any DNA evidence or items to specific suspects.
Controversial Decisions and Internal Criticism
The search saw two individuals briefly apprehended 10 days and 13 days into the investigation, only for both to be released without charges after they were found unconnected to the case. Aaron Cross, president of the Pima County Deputies Organization, told The New York Post that frustration with Nanos's leadership is widespread within the agency, calling it 'a common belief in this agency that this case has become an ego case for Sheriff Nanos.'
Additional controversies include:
- Nanos allegedly prevented Guthrie's daughter, Today Show host Savannah Guthrie, from issuing a reward early in the investigation, fearing an influx of tips could muddy the investigation. Savannah eventually issued the reward 24 days into the search.
- In the early hours of the case, Nanos allegedly failed to deploy a crucial search-and-rescue aircraft equipped with high-resolution thermal imaging cameras, grounding the device when it was needed most.
- During the first five days, Nanos and his deputies released and re-sealed the crime scene multiple times, raising concerns about potential evidence contamination.
- One week into Nancy's disappearance, with national attention focused on the case, Nanos was criticized for attending a basketball game while others continued the search.
Broader Legal Challenges for Nanos
Earlier this month, Nanos faced additional legal trouble when former inmate Michael Marx, 54, filed a $1.35 million lawsuit against him on March 5. Marx alleges that Nanos and the Pima County Sheriff's Department violated his rights through 'cruel and unusual punishment,' claiming a deputy moved between Marx's unit and a quarantined COVID-19 unit without proper disinfection, endangering his life.
Despite these challenges and the ongoing unsolved nature of the Guthrie case, Sheriff Nanos maintains his defiant stance, insisting his team's efforts were appropriate and expressing continued hope for resolution.
