Sheriff Chris Nanos noticed at basketball sport throughout Nancy Guthrie search

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EXCLUSIVE: TUCSON, Ariz. — The sheriff investigating the obvious kidnapping of "At the moment" present anchor Savannah Guthrie's mom was noticed sitting close to the entrance row at a school basketball sport Saturday night time, whilst Guthrie and her two siblings posted a plaintive plea on Instagram for the protected return of their mom.

Fox Information Digital obtained photographs of Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who's dealing with elevated scrutiny because the investigation into Nancy Guthrie 's disappearance drags on, attending a matchup between the College of Arizona and Oklahoma State. Early Sunday morning will mark one week since Guthrie, 84, disappeared from her suburban Tucson dwelling.

Pima County sheriff Chris Nanos was seen at a basketball sport on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (Obtained by Fox Information Digital)

The supply of the photographs, who requested anonymity, slammed Nanos for attending the sport whereas the search continues.

"I feel it wasn’t a very good transfer. This entire factor being so contemporary and nationwide, possibly worldwide," the supply stated. "I don’t assume it was good for him to do it. He’s a significant a part of the investigation, so it didn’t look good to me. Very unhappy to see him on the Arizona basketball sport."

Pima County sheriff Chris Nanos was seen at a basketball sport on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (Obtained by Fox Information Digital)

Solely minutes after the sport ended, Savannah Guthrie and siblings Annie and Camron shared a 3rd message on the NBC star's Instagram web page, pleading with attainable ransomers to contact them.

"We obtained your message and we perceive. We beg you now to return our mom to us in order that we are able to have fun along with her," Savannah Guthrie stated, seated between her brother and sister. "That is the one manner we could have peace. That is very invaluable to us, and we can pay."

Pima County sheriff Chris Nanos was seen at a basketball sport on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (Obtained by Fox Information Digital)

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On Friday, a second purported assertion from alleged kidnappers was despatched to 13 Information in Tucson. Particulars of the contents of the assertion haven't been made public, however the message didn't present proof of life.

Nanos has come under fire twice in latest days for his dealing with of the investigation.

Fox Information Digital realized on Friday {that a} vital side of the investigation was delayed as a consequence of Nanos' dispute with the pilot of the sheriff's division's high-tech search plane. The pilot was demoted to road patrol after the dispute.

Savannah Guthrie launched a brand new video on Instagram pleading along with her mom's captors. (Savannah Guthrie/Instagram)

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Consequently, the airplane's takeoff was delayed for 3 hours after the investigation started.

"Three hours in a seek for a weak grownup is an eternity," a regulation enforcement supply with information of the scenario advised Fox Information Digital.

The Pima County Deputy's Group stated it disagreed with the choice to switch the "high-performing pilot" on the time, because it left a vital regulation enforcement asset short-staffed.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos speaks to the media in Catalina, Arizona, on Feb. 3, whereas answering questions in regards to the seek for Nancy Guthrie. ( Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Photographs)

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"The pilot even made a private plea to Sheriff Nanos however was ignored, and he was despatched to patrol," a union official advised Fox Digital. "That is sadly typical of Sheriff Nanos' management fashion. Probably the most skilled Search and Rescue deputy within the division was transferred to Patrol late final 12 months, with out a alternative, just because he'd 'been there too lengthy.' This left a vital unit short-staffed throughout one of many highest profile searches in PCSD historical past and in the course of the busiest time of 12 months for Search and Rescue."

Nanos additionally admitted in a Friday interview with the Arizona Republic that he made other missteps early within the investigation.

He stated that his division launched Guthrie’s dwelling as a criminal offense scene too quickly, solely to return days later to get better extra proof. Nanos acknowledged that the scene ought to have remained secured longer and that different companies might have been known as in earlier.

FBI brokers canvass properties close to Nancy Guthrie's dwelling in Tucson, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Guthrie was final seen on Saturday night time as an investigation into her disappearance continues. (Kat Ramirez for Fox Information Digital)

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He has obtained scathing criticism on X from these following together with the investigation, the place he has been known as a "bumbling fool" and a "full embarrassment."

Nanos has been a law enforcement official for half a century, starting his profession with the El Paso Police Division in Texas in 1976.

In 1984, he grew to become a corrections officer in Pima County, and the subsequent 12 months was promoted to deputy.

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Within the 30 years that adopted, he centered on violent crimes, intercourse crimes and narcotics interdiction as he rose by the ranks of the division. He grew to become chief of the division's investigative bureau in 2012, and in 2014, he grew to become chief deputy.

Aerial drone pictures of lacking individual Nancy Guthrie’s dwelling on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. Nancy Guthrie, mom of 'At the moment' present host Savannah Guthrie, is suspected of being kidnapped from her dwelling earlier this week. (Fox Flight Crew)

The following 12 months, he was appointed sheriff, however misplaced an election in 2016 to retain the place. He ran once more in 2020, successful by a slender margin.

His 2024 reelection bid, which he received by a mere 481 votes, was marred by scandal.

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Within the weeks main as much as that election, Nanos reportedly positioned his opponent Lappin, a lieutenant on the Pima County Jail, on administrative go away, ordering her to not talk about the reasoning for his resolution. He did the identical to Sgt. Aaron Cross, an outspoken opponent of Nanos and the pinnacle of the Pima County Deputies Group.

Cross reportedly campaigned towards Nanos, holding an indication on a road nook saying "Deputies Do not Need Nanos," simply earlier than he was positioned on go away. Nanos claimed Cross campaigned towards him whereas sporting his Pima County sheriff's uniform in breach of division guidelines, which Cross denied. Cross later filed a federal lawsuit towards Nanos, claiming the sheriff violated his First Modification rights.

Neighbors of Nancy Guthrie, the daughter of "At the moment" host Savannah Guthrie, present assist for the household in metro Tucson, Ariz., on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, because the search continues to search out Nancy who was reported lacking. (Sejal Govindarao/AP Photograph)

Nanos additionally reportedly confronted a felony election interference investigation stemming from the matter.

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The sheriff has additionally faced heat for his dealing with of an inner investigation right into a 2022 sexual assault of a feminine deputy by a supervisor in 2022.