Sheriff Defends Investigation into Missing Tucson Woman Nancy Guthrie
Chris Nanos, the sheriff of Pima County, has publicly defended his department's approach to the investigation surrounding the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. He has dismissed claims that there were mistakes made during the initial phases of the inquiry. Guthrie, aged 84 and the mother of Savannah Guthrie, has been unaccounted for since January 31, when she was last seen at her residence in the Catalina Foothills of Tucson. The case has led to a collaborative search effort involving local law enforcement and the FBI.
In an interview with a local news outlet, Sheriff Nanos expressed that the allegations of investigative shortcomings are detrimental. He stated, "Discrediting an investigation like this doesn't help anything – it's very harmful," and firmly asserted, "No, we don't believe there were any mistakes made." He also defended his deputies against criticism, emphasizing, "You cannot attack my department – attack the sheriff, but you will not get by with attacking my department."
The investigation has drawn scrutiny from legal experts, with some suggesting that early errors may have impeded progress. Lindsay Richards, a former prosecutor, noted that "mistakes made from the very beginning" have resulted in a lack of useful leads, adding, "The more time that passes the harder it gets." Sheriff Nanos rejected calls for his resignation, stating that such criticism is commonplace. "For 50 years, every sheriff here has had that. I can't listen to that. That's white noise," he remarked.
He also defended the qualifications of the lead investigator, countering claims that the officer lacked experience in homicide cases. "This sergeant has been supervisor of homicide for over two years," he stated, highlighting that the sergeant has successfully solved several significant cases in that time.
Concerns have been raised regarding the management of the crime scene, which was initially released and later re-secured as investigators returned to collect more evidence. During the interim, reporters were able to access the property before private security was established. Sheriff Nanos acknowledged that he would have approached some aspects differently, admitting at a press conference on February 5 that he would have preserved the scene for a longer duration. "We got what we thought was complete," he explained. "My team did that. I have to have all the faith and trust in their abilities and their skills." In a statement released on February 27, the Pima County Sheriff's Department confirmed that the case remains active and will continue until Guthrie is located or all leads are exhausted.