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By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has survived a bid to oust him from office, even as county supervisors voted to refer allegations of possible perjury to the Arizona attorney general, heightening scrutiny of the elected official while he continues to lead the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.
The Pima County Board of Supervisors' meeting came 100 days after Guthrie, the 84‑year‑old mother of Today co‑host Savannah Guthrie, vanished from her Tucson home under circumstances authorities say point to an abduction. Despite an extensive search involving local, state and federal agencies, no arrests have been announced.
Steve Christy, the sole Republican on the board, put forward a motion to vacate the sheriff's office during a meeting on Tuesday after the board used a state law to compel Nanos to provide sworn testimony on his work history, disciplinary actions and other issues.
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But that motion failed, as the rest of the board steered clear of vacating the sheriff's office after receiving advice from lawyers that they did not have the authority to do so, The Arizona Republic reported. However, a majority of the board voted to approve a motion referring the sheriff to the state attorney general for possible perjury.
Nanos had provided a 22-page report written and signed by his attorney, but Christy and Matt Heinz, a Democratic supervisor, said it was not sworn because Nanos did not sign the copy sent to the board by its April 21 deadline. Nanos signed the report on May 1 and it was then sent to the board, The Arizona Republic reported. Heinz said it was not clear whether a judge would uphold the decision if supervisors forced Nanos out, since the sheriff ultimately provided a sworn copy of the report.
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Nanos has come under pressure and faced calls to resign after it was reported in March that he had misrepresented his work history on a public resume and in a sworn deposition. A spokesperson for the sheriff's department previously told Newsweek that the discrepancies "were administrative in nature" and "not intended to mislead or misrepresent Sheriff Nanos' work history."
He has also faced criticism over early missteps in the handling of the investigation into Guthrie's disappearance.
Why It Matters
The scrutiny surrounding Nanos' performance has raised concerns that it may distract from solving Guthrie's case.
Authorities have said Guthrie was taken against her will and that drops of her blood were found on her front porch. Thousands of law enforcement officers have been involved in the search, which has also received FBI assistance, but there has been no sign of Guthrie since January 31. Authorities have not identified a suspect or provided the public with details about any major breakthroughs since the release of surveillance footage in February showing a masked man on her front porch.
Nanos Provides Update on Guthrie Case
Nanos said in an interview with local news station KOLD released on Tuesday that investigators from his department and the FBI were working to solve the case.
"They are working hard to get this resolved, and I think every day they get closer," the sheriff said.
He said that labs working on the DNA evidence recovered from Guthrie's home were working to separate the samples.
Nanos added that while the process was moving "at a snail's pace" for some, he viewed it as "doing exactly what we need it to do."
He said that was to ensure that wrongful arrests were not made and that the perpetrator could be successfully prosecuted.
"I believe, at some point in time, we will make an arrest on this case," he said. "And whoever that individual is, that individual will have a right to a fair and impartial trial."
Nanos Under Fire
Nanos has come under pressure and faced calls to resign since The Arizona Republic reported in March that he misrepresented his work history on a public resume and in a sworn deposition. The report said Nanos had resigned in lieu of termination in 1982 after a string of disciplinary issues, two years earlier than he had indicated on his publicly posted resume.
In March, the Pima County Deputy's Organization, which represents about 300 deputies in the department, called for Nanos to resign after passing a unanimous vote of no confidence.
Nanos addressed the calls for him to step down in an interview with News 4 Tucson in April. "For 50 years, every sheriff here has had that. I can't listen to that. That's white noise," he said.
He also defended his department's handling of Guthrie's case, saying, "You cannot attack my department—attack the sheriff, but you will not get by with attacking my department."
On April 21, Nanos sent the 22-page report to the Pima County Board of Supervisors, answering questions about his prior representations about his employment history with the El Paso Police Department, the disciplinary actions, his department's cooperation with federal immigration authorities and instances of his department exceeding its budget.
Nancy Guthrie Timeline
February 1: Guthrie is reported missing in Pima County, Arizona, having been seen last at her Tucson home on January 31. Law enforcement declare the home a "crime scene" and say they do not believe she left the home on her own. Investigators find blood on her porch that belonged to her and discover that her doorbell camera had been disconnected.
February 12: The FBI release details about a potential suspect in the case and identifying details. The bureau doubles the reward to $100,000 for information leading to Guthrie's location.
March 18: Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos faces calls to be recalled over his handling of the investigation into Guthrie's disappearance. Critics question Nanos' handling of the investigation, including his decision to release the crime scene within days, only for investigators to return later to collect additional evidence after reporters and others had been able to approach the home.
April 6: Savannah Guthrie returns to NBC's Today show for the first time in more than two months. She wears a yellow outfit for her return in an apparent nod to the ribbons and flowers that had been left outside her mother's home as a symbol of hope after she disappeared.
May 8: Nanos tells KOLD that authorities are "closer" to solving the case, though no arrests or publicly identified suspects have been announced.
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