Pima County Supervisors Order Hearing on Sheriff Nanos Amid TSA Gun Incident, Abuse-of-Office Finding and Questions Over Nancy Guthrie Disappearance Investigation
Pima County supervisors have ordered a hearing for Sheriff Chris Nanos after a Nov. 6 TSA report revealed a loaded, undeclared firearm was found in his carry‑on at a Tucson‑area airport and an independent investigation concluded a preponderance of evidence that he abused his office for political gain during the 2024 sheriff’s race. The action comes amid renewed scrutiny of his handling of the Feb. 1 disappearance of 84‑year‑old Nancy Guthrie — including criticisms that the crime scene was mishandled — and a $100,000 reward backer urging tipsters to bypass the sheriff’s office and contact Pima County Crime Stoppers for anonymity.
📌 Key Facts
- A Nov. 6, 2024 incident report obtained by Fox News Digital says TSA at a Tucson‑area airport found a loaded, undeclared firearm in Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos’ carry‑on bag (five rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber); Nanos missed his flight, secured the weapon in his vehicle and later flew out, and no charges were filed.
- Retired FBI agent James Gagliano said a law‑enforcement officer could legally fly armed if they follow required declaration protocols, underscoring that the airport‑checkpoint violation was avoidable if proper procedures had been followed.
- An independent investigation into bullying and retaliation complaints concluded a ‘preponderance of the evidence’ showed Sheriff Nanos abused his office for political gain during his tight 2024 race against former PCSD Lt. Heather Lappin.
- Local conservative activist Cory Stephens told the Pima County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 12, 2024 that Nanos received more lenient treatment over the airport firearm incident than a private citizen would have.
- Attorney Michael Hupy, who is funding a $100,000 reward in the Nancy Guthrie case, has urged potential tipsters to bypass the Pima County Sheriff’s Office and instead contact Pima County Crime Stoppers (88‑CRIME) to remain anonymous and safely collect rewards, arguing Crime Stoppers provides stronger anonymity and avoids PCSD–FBI competition.
- Hupy publicly criticized the early handling of the Guthrie investigation, saying the sheriff’s office released and then re‑secured the crime scene and did not keep it locked down long enough to fully process it.
- Key reported details of the Nancy Guthrie case: Guthrie, 84, is believed to have been taken from her Tucson bedroom around 2 a.m. on Feb. 1; back doors were propped open; a thin blood trail led from the front door to the driveway; her Nest doorbell camera was missing; and recovered video shows an unidentified masked man at her doorstep.
📊 Relevant Data
Arizona ranks third among U.S. states for the number of unresolved missing persons cases involving Indigenous people.
As of early March 2026, there are nearly 1,100 open missing persons cases in Arizona — Facebook - ABC15 Arizona
Tucson, located in Pima County, ranks fourth among U.S. cities for the number of cases of missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls.
Indigenous women missing, murdered at high rates despite efforts — tucson.com
Indigenous people in Arizona go missing and are murdered at significantly higher rates than people from other racial groups, with many cases remaining unresolved for years.
Number of years missing for Indigenous missing persons in Arizona — ResearchGate
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Attorney and Crime Stoppers Milwaukee president Michael Hupy, who is funding a $100,000 reward in the Nancy Guthrie case, publicly urges potential tipsters to bypass the Pima County Sheriff’s Office and instead contact Pima County Crime Stoppers (88‑CRIME) to remain anonymous and safely collect rewards.
- Hupy explicitly criticizes the early handling of the Guthrie investigation, saying the sheriff’s office released and then had to re-secure the crime scene and did not keep it locked down long enough to fully process it.
- The article restates key crime-scene details: Guthrie, 84, is believed taken from her Tucson bedroom around 2 a.m. Feb. 1; back doors were propped open; a thin blood trail led from the front door to the driveway; her Nest doorbell camera was missing; and recovered video shows an unidentified masked man at her doorstep.
- Hupy argues Crime Stoppers offers stronger anonymity than the sheriff’s or FBI tip lines, framing it as a way to avoid being labeled a “snitch” and to sidestep competition between PCSD and FBI for information.
- Fox News Digital obtained a Nov. 6, 2024 incident report stating TSA at a Tucson‑area airport found a loaded, undeclared firearm in Sheriff Chris Nanos’ carry‑on bag, with five rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber.
- The report indicates Nanos missed his flight, secured the weapon in his vehicle and later flew out, and no charges were filed in connection with the incident.
- A separate independent investigation into bullying and retaliation complaints concluded that a ‘preponderance of the evidence’ showed Nanos abused his office for political gain during a tight 2024 race against former PCSD Lt. Heather Lappin.
- Local conservative activist Cory Stephens publicly told the Pima County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 12, 2024 that Nanos received more lenient treatment than a private citizen would have over the airport firearm incident.
- Retired FBI agent James Gagliano is quoted explaining that as a law‑enforcement officer Nanos could have legally flown armed if he had followed required declaration protocols, underscoring the avoidable nature of the violation.