Pima County Sheriff Faces Scrutiny Over Work History as He Leads Nancy Guthrie Disappearance Case

Former FBI agent says the investigation into Sheriff Chris Nanos' past is a 'huge distraction' from the high-profile missing person case.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 10:33am

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An extreme close-up of a police evidence marker or crime scene tape, dramatically lit by a harsh flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the intense investigation into the Nancy Guthrie disappearance case.The intense scrutiny over the Pima County Sheriff's past threatens to overshadow the high-stakes investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.Tucson Today

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is facing mounting pressure over discrepancies in his work history as he leads the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie. A former FBI agent says the scrutiny of Nanos' past is a 'huge distraction' from the case, as the county board has demanded he answer questions about his work history, leadership, and other issues within the next week.

Why it matters

The Nancy Guthrie disappearance case has garnered national attention, and the leadership and credibility of the sheriff overseeing the investigation is now being called into question. This could undermine public confidence in the case and the ability of law enforcement to make progress in finding out what happened to the missing woman.

The details

The Pima County Board of Supervisors has sent Sheriff Nanos a set of four questions about his work history, leadership, immigration enforcement, and budget issues. Compiling the answers will take a significant amount of Nanos and his staff's time over the coming days, according to a former FBI agent. This 'huge distraction' comes as Nanos faces criticism over his handling of the Guthrie investigation, which has seen little progress since the FBI released surveillance footage of a suspect in February.

  • The board voted earlier this week to send Nanos the set of questions.
  • Nanos has until the board's next scheduled meeting on April 21 to provide the answers.

The players

Chris Nanos

The Pima County Sheriff who is leading the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. Nanos has faced scrutiny over discrepancies in his work history that were revealed in a recent news report.

Jennifer Coffindaffer

A former FBI special agent who says the scrutiny of Nanos' past is a 'huge distraction' from the Guthrie case.

Matt Heinz

The vice chair of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, who says Nanos must provide a 'substantive' response to the board's questions or risk being removed from office.

Nancy Guthrie

An 84-year-old woman who disappeared from her home outside Tucson, Arizona on January 31. Her disappearance is being investigated as a kidnapping.

Savannah Guthrie

The co-host of NBC's Today show and the daughter of the missing Nancy Guthrie.

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What they’re saying

“If he is getting good counsel, he will submit only in writing. And my biggest thing with all of this is, what an absolute distraction. He is supposed to be leading the Guthrie case.”

— Jennifer Coffindaffer, Former FBI Special Agent

“I believe that this board would be well within our legal rights to… vacate that office and remove him if he doesn't comply with the statute.”

— Matt Heinz, Vice Chair, Pima County Board of Supervisors

What’s next

The deadline for Sheriff Nanos to provide answers to the Pima County Board of Supervisors' questions is April 21, when the board holds its next scheduled meeting. The board has indicated it may take action to remove Nanos from office if he does not comply with their request.

The takeaway

The scrutiny over Sheriff Nanos' past and his handling of the high-profile Nancy Guthrie disappearance case has raised serious questions about his leadership and credibility. This distraction could undermine public trust in the investigation and the ability of law enforcement to make progress in finding out what happened to the missing woman.