Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has dismissed a recent claim made to TMZ by someone alleging they have video evidence linked to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, who’s 84 years old. This has raised further doubts about how he is managing the investigation.
Nanos addressed a new ransom note that suggests two individuals were involved in Guthrie’s abduction, mentioning that cellphone footage from a secure area supposedly shows the “main suspects.” He noted that the FBI has dealt with numerous instances of fraudulent ransom notes and hinted at potential further arrests.
“It’s unfortunate that these things happen,” he remarked during an interview with local radio. “People have a lot of interest, which can be beneficial for the case, but it also leads to exploitation.” He expressed frustration at the situation, indicating that some individuals are making false demands while claiming to act for the benefit of the media or families involved.
According to TMZ, the recent message conveyed that Guthrie was last seen alive, while officials maintain that Savannah Guthrie’s mother is still alive. This statement follows reports about ransom notes that surfaced shortly after Guthrie’s February disappearance from her Tucson home.
The first note, dated February 2, demanded a sizable Bitcoin ransom, while another note sent four days later declared Guthrie was deceased.
In late February, TMZ received emails from someone asking for payment in return for information on Guthrie’s potential kidnapper. The latest correspondence, reported on Friday, came from the same individual who sent the earlier emails, offering to disclose his phone password for a Bitcoin payment.
Sheriff Nanos conceded that the authenticity of two of the notes might be in question but reinforced that the FBI is leading the investigation into these claims.
“Some people believe that those notes might have some legitimacy, but the FBI is looking into that,” he explained, adding that he couldn’t reveal more due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Nanos has faced mounting criticism for his management of the case and recently navigated an attempt to push him out of office. At a Pima County Board of Supervisors meeting in May, an effort to vacate his position did not advance.
This scrutiny intensified after reports surfaced in March that Nanos had possibly misrepresented details of his employment history on official documents, leading the commission to refer possible perjury charges to the Arizona Attorney General.
