Sheriff Chris Nanos spotted at basketball game during Nancy Guthrie search

SPECIAL: TUCSON, Ariz. — The sheriff investigating the apparent kidnapping of “Today” host Savannah Guthrie’s mother was seen sitting in the front row of a college basketball game Saturday night, even as Guthrie and her two siblings posted an anguished plea on Instagram for their mother’s safe return.

Fox News Digital has obtained photos of Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who faces increased scrutiny as the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance continues, attending a game between the University of Arizona and Oklahoma State. Early Sunday morning will have marked one week since Guthrie, 84, disappeared from his home in suburban Tucson.

The source of the photos, who wished to remain anonymous, criticized Nanos’ participation in the match while the search was ongoing.

“I don’t think this is a good move. This is all very fresh and nationwide, maybe world-wide,” the source said. “I don’t think it was good for him to do that. He’s an important part of the investigation, so it didn’t look good to me. It was very sad to see him at the Arizona basketball game.”

Pima County sheriff Chris Nanos is seen at a basketball game on Saturday, February 7, 2026. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

Just minutes after the game ended, Savannah Guthrie and sisters Annie and Camron shared a third message on the NBC star’s Instagram page, asking would-be kidnappers to contact them.

“We have received your message and we understand. We are begging you to give us back our mother so we can celebrate with her,” said Savannah Guthrie, sitting between her brother and sister. “This is the only way we can achieve peace. This is very valuable to us, we will pay the price.”

Pima County sheriff Chris Nanos is seen at a basketball game on Saturday, February 7, 2026. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

WHO IS CHRIS NANOS? PIMA COUNTY SHERIFF, WITH 50 YEARS OF CONSERVATION, DIRECTS NANCY GUTHRIE INVESTIGATION

On Friday, a second statement from the alleged kidnappers was sent to 13 News in Tucson. Details regarding the content of the statement have not been made public, but the message does not contain evidence of life.

Nanos has come under fire twice in recent days for his handling of the investigation.

Fox News Digital learned Friday that a critical aspect of the investigation was delayed because of Nanos’ disagreement with the pilot of the sheriff’s department’s high-tech search plane. Following the argument, the pilot was demoted to street patrol.

Savannah Guthrie posted a new video on Instagram pleading with her mother’s kidnappers. (Savannah Guthrie/Instagram)

NEIGHBOR FOUND MYSTERIOUS WHITE VAN BEFORE SAVANNAH GUTHRIE’S MOTHER DISAPPEARED FROM HOME: REPORT

As a result, the plane’s departure was delayed for three hours after the investigation began.

“Three hours is an eternity to search for a vulnerable adult,” a law enforcement source with knowledge of the situation told Fox News Digital.

The Pima County Legislative Organization said at the time that it disagreed with the decision to transfer the “high-performance pilot” because it left a crucial law enforcement agency short-staffed.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos speaks to the media while answering questions about the search for Nancy Guthrie on February 3 in Catalina, Arizona. (Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images)

41-MINUTE TIMELINE IN NANCY GUTHRIE CASE RAISES RED FLAGS FOR FORMER MURDER DETECTIVE

“The pilot even made a personal request to Sheriff Nanos, but it was ignored and he was sent on patrol,” a union official told Fox Digital. he said. “This is unfortunately typical of Sheriff Nanos’ leadership style. The most experienced Search and Rescue deputy in the department was transferred to patrol late last year simply because he had ‘been there too long.’ This left a critical unit understaffed during one of the most high-profile searches in PCSD history and during the busiest time of the year for Search and Rescue.”

Nanos also admitted in an interview on Friday: Republic of Arizona He said he made other missteps early in the investigation.

He said his department released Guthrie’s home as a crime scene too early, but returned days later to collect additional evidence. Nanos acknowledged that the scene should have remained safe longer and other crews could have been called in sooner.

FBI agents search homes near Nancy Guthrie’s home in Tucson on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Guthrie was last seen Saturday night as the investigation into his disappearance continued. (Fox News Digital’s Kat Ramirez)

WHILE AUTHORITIES OFFER A 50 THOUSAND DOLLAR REWARD, AUTHORITIES SAY THERE IS NO SUSPECT IN CONNECTION WITH NANCY GUTHRIE’S MISSING.

he took harsh criticism of x Where he was called an “incompetent idiot” and “utterly disgraceful” by those following the investigation.

Nanos has been in law enforcement for half a century, beginning his career with the El Paso Police Department in Texas in 1976.

He became a corrections officer in Pima County in 1984 and was promoted to deputy the following year.

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE Pleads Mother Nancy’s Captors in Heartbreaking Video and Other Highlights

Over the next 30 years, he focused on violent crime, sex crimes and narcotics interdiction as he rose through the department’s ranks. He became chief of the department’s investigations bureau in 2012 and became its chief deputy in 2014.

Aerial drone footage of missing Nancy Guthrie’s home in Tucson, Arizona, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, the mother of ‘Today’ show host Savannah Guthrie, is suspected of being kidnapped from her home earlier this week. (Fox Flight Crew)

He was appointed sheriff the following year, but lost an election to retain the position in 2016. He competed again in 2020, winning by a narrow margin.

His reelection bid in 2024, which he won by just 481 votes, was marred by scandal.

HARVEY LEVIN GIVES EXPLOSIVE UPDATE ABOUT ALLOCED NANCY LEVIN RANDOM NOTE ON ‘HANNITY’

In the weeks before this election, Nanos reportedly He placed his opponent, Lappin, a lieutenant at the Pima County Jail, on administrative leave, ordering him not to discuss the reasoning behind his decision. He did the same to Sgt. Aaron Cross is an outspoken opponent of Nanos and president of the Pima County Legislators Organization.

Just before he was placed on leave, Cross reportedly campaigned against Nanos by holding a banner on a street corner that read “MPs Don’t Want Nanos.” Nanos claimed Cross campaigned against him and violated department rules by wearing the Pima County sheriff’s uniform, which Cross denied. To go past filed later A federal lawsuit against Nanos for allegedly violating the sheriff’s First Amendment rights.

Neighbors of Nancy Guthrie, daughter of “Today” host Savannah Guthrie, show support for the family as efforts continue to find Nancy, who was reported missing, on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in metro Tucson, Arizona. (Sejal Govindarao/AP Photo)

nanos too reportedly He faced a criminal election interference investigation into the matter.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION

There is also a sheriff facing heat for his handling of an internal investigation into the sexual assault of a female lawmaker by a supervisor in 2022.

Fox News’ Stepheny Price contributed to this report.