Backlash grows against police in Nancy Guthrie case after suspension revelation
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has headed the investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance from her Arizona home since day one
Backlash has been steadily building against the lead investigator in the case of Nancy Guthrie's disappearance on February 1, with Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos coming under fire for past disciplinary issues as the investigation approaches its 12th week.
The sheriff's history at the El Paso Police Department in Texas has drawn criticism as he resigned from his position in 1982 in order to avoid disciplinary action. He addressed the allegations that he misrepresented himself when applying for a job at the Pima County Police Department in the '80s, after leaving his job in Texas.
Chris' lawyer responded to the probe into his past with a 22-page document that explained his conduct. "Sheriff Nanos resigned from the El Paso Police Department in 1982. At the time of his resignation, he held the rank of corporal," the document read.
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Sheriff Chris Nanos has come under fire in recent weeks
"His resignation came in the wake of a dispute with a supervisor over the towing of vehicles. The supervisor wanted to impose a three-day suspension for insubordination. Sheriff Nanos appealed that recommended discipline to the Chief, who found in favor of the supervisor."
"Rather than accept a three-day suspension, Sheriff Nanos offered to resign in lieu of discipline. The Chief accepted his offer, and Sheriff Nanos resigned," he continued. The document added that he had not lied about his employment history, and wrote on his resume that he left the job in 1982, despite the Pima County Sheriff's Department website stating that he left in 1984.
Chris' lawyer also acknowledged the disciplinary actions he was subject to at El Paso, including "counselling, reprimands and suspensions". The letter then spoke on the sheriff's previous statement under oath that he had never been suspended as a result of disciplinary action.
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The sheriff has lead the Nancy Guthrie investigation since day one
"It is 100% correct that Sheriff Nanos was never suspended during his four decades of decorated and faithful service with the Pima County Sheriff's Department," his lawyer wrote to the Pima County Board of Supervisors.
"However, Sheriff Nanos was suspended more than forty years ago while employed by [the] El Paso Police Department. In the context of his live deposition, Sheriff Nanos did not understand the question related to discipline with a different agency not governed by the Arizona Peace Officers' Bill of Rights."
Social media users quickly shared their distaste for the sheriff after his past in El Paso came to light. "Everyone wants him gone," wrote one X user, while another added that "people are angry". A third chimed in that Chris had "botched this [case] from the start," while a fourth added: "My gut is telling me it was totally mishandled."
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Chris faced backlash from social media users
Chris did garner support from some social media users, with one writing: "Wasn't this decades ago? [In my opinion] he is working hard to find Nancy Guthrie," while another added that the focus on his past was "fueling a dishonest narrative" about Chris' competency.
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Nancy went missing from her Arizona home in February
The Pima County Sheriff's Department has worked closely with the FBI since Nancy went missing in February. While several suspects have been questioned regarding her disappearance, no arrests have been made, and DNA evidence is still being examined by the authorities.
Nancy, the 84-year-old mother of Today show star Savannah Guthrie, was believed to have been taken by force from her home in Tucson, Arizona, after blood was found on the doorstep, and her personal effects were found inside the house.
“Daddy… do I cost too much?” Callum Calder froze. His four-year-old daughter stood beside the kitchen table, three quarters clenched in her tiny fist. She was trying to slip them into the front pocket of his work bag without him noticing. “Sweetheart, what is this for?” Sadie lowered her eyes. She had started doing that lately whenever she thought she had done something wrong. Callum still didn’t know where she had learned to brace for trouble before anyone even raised their voice. “The cookie,” she whispered. “And my bath.” At the sink, Ivy stopped moving. The dish towel remained frozen in her hands. They had already left Walter and Diane’s house. Two weeks earlier, they had packed the car in a rush and driven away. It had started with something as small as Sadie reaching for a second cookie. Then came the screaming. Then Diane slapped the back of Sadie’s hand hard enough to make her cry. Another night, Diane snatched away Sadie’s bowl of noodles while she was still eating. The food spilled down the front of the little girl’s shirt. And Diane told her four-year-old granddaughter she hadn’t “earned” the right to finish dinner. Callum had driven away from his childhood home with Ivy and Sadie in the back seat believing one thing: Getting them out would be enough. Those two months with his parents had only been temporary. A way to save money while their apartment leases overlapped. Callum thought distance would undo whatever damage had been done there. Then his four-year-old daughter stood in their new kitchen holding seventy-five cents— trying to pay her own father for a cookie and a bath. And Callum realized leaving that house had only removed Sadie from the place that hurt her. It hadn’t removed the fear that place had taught her. 👉👉 I’ve exceeded the character limit, so please read the rest of the episode in the comments below. If you don’t see it, click **“All comments.”** 👇👇👇
“Daddy… do I cost too much?”
Callum Calder froze.
His four-year-old daughter stood beside the kitchen table, three quarters clenched in her tiny fist.
She was trying to slip them into the front pocket of his work bag without him noticing.
“Sweetheart, what is this for?”
Sadie lowered her eyes.
She had started doing that lately whenever she thought she had done something wrong.
Callum still didn’t know where she had learned to brace for trouble before anyone even raised their voice.
“The cookie,” she whispered.
“And my bath.”
At the sink, Ivy stopped moving.
The dish towel remained frozen in her hands.
They had already left Walter and Diane’s house.
Two weeks earlier, they had packed the car in a rush and driven away.
It had started with something as small as Sadie reaching for a second cookie.
Then came the screaming.
Then Diane slapped the back of Sadie’s hand hard enough to make her cry.
Another night, Diane snatched away Sadie’s bowl of noodles while she was still eating.
The food spilled down the front of the little girl’s shirt.
And Diane told her four-year-old granddaughter she hadn’t “earned” the right to finish dinner.
Callum had driven away from his childhood home with Ivy and Sadie in the back seat believing one thing:
Getting them out would be enough.
Those two months with his parents had only been temporary.
A way to save money while their apartment leases overlapped.
Callum thought distance would undo whatever damage had been done there.
Then his four-year-old daughter stood in their new kitchen holding seventy-five cents—
trying to pay her own father for a cookie and a bath.
And Callum realized leaving that house had only removed Sadie from the place that hurt her.
It hadn’t removed the fear that place had taught her.
👉👉 I’ve exceeded the character limit, so please read the rest of the episode in the comments below.
If you don’t see it, click “All comments.” 👇👇👇
