Pima County Sheriff clears Nancy Guthrie's family as suspects in disappearance

Authorities say the family has been cooperative and are victims in the case

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has cleared Nancy Guthrie's family members as suspects in her disappearance case. In a statement, Nanos said the family, including all siblings and spouses, has been "nothing but cooperative and gracious" and are "victims in this case". He urged the media to report on the case with "compassion and professionalism".

Why it matters

The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has garnered significant media attention, and there had been speculation that her own family members could be involved. The sheriff's statement clearing the family as suspects helps provide clarity and shifts the focus back to finding out what happened to Nancy.

The details

According to the Pima County Sheriff's Office, Nancy Guthrie's family members have been fully cooperative with the investigation into her disappearance. Sheriff Chris Nanos stated that the family, including her siblings and their spouses, are not considered suspects and are in fact "victims" in this case.

  • On Monday afternoon, February 16, 2026, Sheriff Chris Nanos issued a statement clearing Nancy Guthrie's family as suspects.

The players

Chris Nanos

The Pima County Sheriff who cleared Nancy Guthrie's family members as suspects in her disappearance case.

Nancy Guthrie

The woman who has gone missing, whose disappearance is under investigation.

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What they’re saying

“To be clear...the Guthrie family - to include all siblings and spouses - has been cleared as possible suspects in this case. The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are victims in this case.”

— Chris Nanos, Pima County Sheriff

“To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel. The Guthrie family are victims plain and simple...please, I'm begging you the media to honor your profession and report with some sense of compassion and professionalism.”

— Chris Nanos, Pima County Sheriff

What’s next

The investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance is ongoing, and authorities have urged the public to come forward with any information that could help locate her.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of avoiding unfounded speculation and treating families of missing persons with sensitivity, as they are often victims themselves. The sheriff's clear statement exonerating the Guthrie family members sets an example for responsible reporting on such sensitive cases.