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.
"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.
She Came to the Blind Date Carrying a Sleeping Child… and Somehow Made the Man Who Never Stayed Want to Come Home
She Came to the Blind Date Carrying a Sleeping Child… and Somehow Made the Man Who Never Stayed Want to Come Home
“Sorry… I’m late.”
Those were the first words Olivia Bennett said to the man who was supposed to decide, over one dinner, whether she deserved a second date.
She said them standing in the entrance of a crowded Seattle restaurant—rain dripping from her sneakers, loose strands of hair escaping a collapsing bun, a diaper bag sliding off one shoulder, and a sleeping little boy curled against her chest as though the world had finally worn him out.
The room noticed.
Conversations stalled.
A woman in a cream coat leaned toward her husband and whispered.
A waiter froze mid-step with two steaming plates balanced on one arm.
Even the hostess blinked twice, uncertain whether she was looking at a late reservation... or a mother on the verge of collapsing.
At the window, John Walker looked up from his phone.
Two untouched glasses of ice water sat between neatly folded napkins.
Every calm, polished sentence he had rehearsed vanished the instant he saw her.
The woman from the dating profile had been standing beside a lake in a blue sweater, smiling with effortless ease, looking like someone whose life still obeyed a schedule.
The woman standing before him looked as though life had thrown twelve rounds at her...
...and she had lost on points by only refusing to stay down.
For one brief moment, John assumed she had mistaken him for someone else.
Then her eyes met his.
Her face drained of color.
"Oh no..."
The words barely escaped her lips.
She hurried toward the table, carefully adjusting the little boy sleeping on her shoulder.
He couldn't have been older than four.
Soft blond hair.
Round cheeks.
One tiny fist wrapped tightly around a battered green plastic dinosaur.
"I'm so, so sorry," Olivia rushed out between breaths. "I know I'm late. I know I should've called. I actually did call—but my phone died in the parking garage. Then Noah lost one of his shoes somewhere between Level Two and the elevator. Then I realized I still had applesauce on my sleeve..."
She glanced down at herself and gave a defeated sigh.
"So... as first impressions go... this is a disaster."
John stood automatically.
His mother had raised him to stand whenever a woman approached the table.
Unfortunately...
She had never taught him what to do when that woman arrived carrying a sleeping child.
Shake her hand?
Offer to hold the boy?
Pretend this happened every day?
Instead, he quietly pulled out her chair.
"Please... sit."
Olivia let out a nervous laugh.
"Before I die from embarrassment."
She eased herself into the seat without waking Noah.
The diaper bag slipped from her shoulder and landed with a heavy thump.
A juice box rolled across the floor and disappeared beneath the next table as if it wanted no part in this date.
A passing waiter stopped it with the tip of his shoe and handed it back.
"Thank you," Olivia murmured.
He answered with the gentle smile reserved for people carrying children... exhaustion... and far more responsibility than anyone should manage alone.
For several long seconds...
Neither of them spoke.
Rain tapped softly against the windows.
Silverware clinked somewhere behind them.
Laughter drifted from the bar before fading into the background.
Finally, Olivia broke the silence.
"The babysitter canceled forty minutes ago."
She rubbed her forehead.
"I called my neighbor... my cousin... another mom from preschool... even my friend Maya, who's usually my emergency backup."
A tired smile crossed her face.
"Turns out... every emergency contact had an emergency."
John tilted his head.
"You could've canceled."
"I already canceled twice."
She lowered her eyes.
"If I canceled again... I figured you'd assume I wasn't interested."
John studied her quietly.
He'd been on enough first dates to recognize rehearsed perfection.
Carefully chosen outfits.
Polished stories.
Practiced laughter.
Questions disguised as chemistry tests.
People trying desperately to appear successful...
Relaxed...
Uncomplicated.
Olivia Bennett looked like she'd barely survived Tuesday.
Oddly enough...
It was the most honest first impression he'd had in years.
"So..." he asked gently.
"You brought him?"
She nodded.
"He fell asleep in the car."
"I thought maybe I could apologize in person, stay twenty minutes, then leave before he woke up."
John looked down at the little boy.
"What's his name?"
"Noah."
As though hearing his own name inside a dream, Noah shifted slightly.
His fingers tightened around the plastic dinosaur.
John smiled.
"Does the dinosaur have a name?"
Olivia closed her eyes in mock defeat.
"Unfortunately... yes."
"What is it?"
"Sir Chomps-a-Lot."
John laughed.
Not politely.
Not because he felt obligated.
A real laugh.
Warm.
Unexpected.
The first genuine laugh he'd had in weeks.
"That's an incredible name."
"Noah came up with it when he was three."
"And now?"
"He's four."
John nodded solemnly.
"Still excellent judgment."
For the first time that evening...
Olivia smiled.
Not the nervous smile she'd been forcing since she arrived.
A real one.
The kind that reached her eyes.
It transformed her face.
When the waiter returned, Olivia ordered the cheapest bowl of soup on the menu.
John noticed immediately.
He simply chose not to embarrass her by mentioning it.
Instead, he ordered pasta...
A pizza for the table...
And fries.
Lots of fries.
Olivia looked confused.
"That's way too much food."
"Then we'll have leftovers."
She looked ready to protest.
Instead...
She simply nodded.
Sometimes kindness is hardest to argue with.
For the next ten minutes...
Everything felt surprisingly normal.
Olivia taught preschool near Green Lake.
John owned a software company that built patient-record systems for community hospitals.
She loved children's books, roadside diners, and the smell of rain hitting warm pavement.
He loved hiking, strong black coffee, and old science-fiction movies from the 1970s.
She declared those movies sounded "aggressively boring."
He laughed again.
She wasn't trying to impress him.
She wasn't performing.
Her humor was quiet...
Dry...
Effortless.
The kind that arrived unexpectedly and stayed with you afterward.
Then Noah woke up.
Slowly.
He blinked once.
Then twice.
He stared directly at John.
John stared back.
Neither said a word.
Finally...
Noah raised one tiny finger.
"Who's that?"
Olivia nearly inhaled her water.
"This is John."
Noah frowned.
"Why?"
"Because... that's his name."
He shook his head.
"No."
He pointed again.
"Why is he here?"
John covered his mouth to hide another laugh.
"That's honestly a fair question."
"We're having dinner," Olivia explained.
Noah considered that very seriously.
Then he turned back toward John.
"Are you rich?"
John inhaled at exactly the wrong moment.
Water went down the wrong pipe.
He started coughing uncontrollably.
Olivia's eyes widened in horror.
"Noah!"
"What?"
"You can't ask people that."
The little boy looked genuinely confused.
"...Why?"
