Sheriff Nanos Investigated Amid Case Of Nancy Guthrie – Will He Quit?

By now, true crime followers probably heard about Sheriff Nanos, who oversaw the Nancy Guthrie case, taking a lot of heat. And notably, not just from viewers who follow the case online. Internal complaints led to an inquiry. Meanwhile, other news revealed that the former boss of Nanos had a lot to say about the investigation. Read on for more details.

The Votes Of No Confidence

Pima County Board of Supervisors responded to allegations and polls by members of the Tucson police on Nanos and their confidence in him. Per Tucson.com, they invoked “state law to compel Nanos to provide sworn reports on his disciplinary history, with non-compliance potentially leading to removal from office.”

Following that, Brian Entin examined the situation that led to the discord through the agency in the Nancy Guthrie case.He spoke with Rick Kastigar. If you don’t know, Rick used to be the Pima County Sheriff back in the day when Nanos was a deputy with the department.

The Boss Was ‘Stunned’

During his Brian Entin Investigates podcast on Tuesday, Brian explained that Rick Kastigar said Nanos “worked for me the majority of his career.” Notably, it wasn’t for just a few years, but ran to about 37 years in total. Apparently, Rick supported Nanos when he ran for sheriff, and he won.

Following that, Nanos asked Rick to come on board as his own chief deputy. However, that didn’t work out. Notably, it seems their friendship fractured quite seriously.

In fact, Rick told Entin, “Day one, when we’re all sitting around the table, Chris Nanos, now the sheriff, said, ‘I am going to micromanage the [expletive] out of you guys,'” Well, that took Rick aback, and he added, “I was stunned.” Then he also mentioned, “He does things based on his emotions and he does things based on his ego.”

The Initial Guthrie Case

During his chat with Brian Entin, he talked about about the Nancy Guthrie investigation fiasco. When Brian asked about what seemed to be a small and disorganized search for Nancy Guthrie, Rick explained a bit more about it.

He said, “Initially, the case was handled as though this was an elderly woman who walked away from her home.” Notably, some searches were carried out. “But they didn’t really find anything.”

Well, despite blood on the porch, he also noted that it took about “18 to 24 hours or so” before it moved to a more investigative phase. And that’s when it became apparent that something else had happened.

As far as Rick was concerned, the evidence pointed to it being rather “sophisticated.” For a bit, they discussed the camera surveillance footage that showed the abductor seemed prepared.

Things Were Not Done Right

Next, the duo discussed the date of January 11. Plenty of people reported about that and why it seems important. Presumably some evidence came along that showed perhaps a canvassing of the home. However, it’s not exactly clear. Overall though, Rick believes the initial response seemed inadequate.

“I don’t think the right things were done initially,” he said. “I think the outcome may or may not have changed if certain things were done initially, regardless.”

Rejecting Help

Next, Entin raised some questions that many true crime followers ask. He noted the offers of help came from multiple agencies early on. Plus, he cited President Trump as saying, “We will assist in any way we can.” Then there were the Cajun Navy searchers who were spurned. So it’s a puzzle why the sheriff turned down all offers.

Well, Kastigar placed his opinion on the sheriff’s leadership style.

Chris is not interested in other perspectives or other opinions or somebody trying to help him, especially when it comes to investigations,” Kastigar said. “He considers himself to be the premier, quintessential police investigator. He doesn’t want anybody else’s help. He can do it himself.

The Fallout from Nanos’s Past

If you don’t know, multiple reports say Sheriff Nanos isn’t as squeaky clean as folks previously suspected. Per KVOA:

Nanos is accused of misrepresenting his work history on his resume among other issues, sparking concern from Pima County Supervisor Matt Heinz.

Well, it doesn’t look all that good for the man in charge of the Nancy Guthrie investigation. Allegedly, he a denied, under a deposition, that he’s ever been suspended as a law enforcement officer.

Now, the Pima County Board of Supervisors invoked state law to compel Nanos to provide sworn reports on his disciplinary history, warning that non-compliance could lead to removal from office.

When Entin asked Kastigar about that and if it had been known back in 1984 when he went to join the Pima County office, it seems he wouldn’t have even gotten in.

“Had his past been known in 1984 when he came to apply for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, he would have been disqualified based on his past in El Paso,” Kastigar said. “Eight suspensions and disciplinary issues, far beyond anybody that I know. It would not have been survivable for him to be an employee.”

An Employment Gap

He added that the two-year gap between Nanos leaving El Paso and being hired in Pima County seem very telling.

“There’s a two-year gap there,” Kastigar said. “…that doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. He didn’t want anybody to know what his history with El Paso was. I think in his own heart, his own mind, he knows all too well he would not have been hired had that come out.”

Will Nanos Quit?

With a huge recall effort going on in Pima County, one might expect that Sheriff Nanos would step aside, quit and go and eat some humble pie. Well, maybe you shouldn’t hold your breath because Rick, who knows him well, doesn’t think that will happen.

He said:

You see me smiling, because I know his ego won’t let him…When people get pushed against a wall, most people are introspective enough to start looking at how they act and what they do and why they do what they do. Chris Nanos doesn’t do that. He’s not a very introspective individual. I think his vanity and his ego dictate how he’s going to proceed.

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