Watch Nancy Guthrie police chief rip into FBI as his team make another blunder in kidnapping case: 'We have REAL policemen'
The sheriff leading the desperate hunt for abducted Nancy Guthrie has been caught on camera boasting about how much better his department is than the FBI.
Chris Nanos is now working closely with the Feds who were parachuted in to help the investigation into the kidnapping of TV star Savannah Guthrie's 84-year-old mom in Tucson, Arizona, eight days ago.
He now shares the stage with them at press conferences where he has given answers that have muddled his previous statements about the case, which has gathered international attention.
But he didn't mince his words ten years ago, when he gave a TV interview about an FBI investigation into his own department that looked at allegations that RICO funds were being misused.
Sheriff Nanos said he was unhappy with the way the probe was being conducted, bragging to local station KGUN9 in 2016: 'If they're having problems doing criminal investigations please call us because we have real policemen here.
'We'll do that for you. Because obviously they can't get it done. I'm upset at the inappropriateness of their investigation. And they are inappropriate.'
Nanos has come under repeated fire for his handling of the Guthrie case, with no suspects yet identified and sources telling the Daily Mail that the investigation is being run by a small team of detectives who have little relevant experience.
Police working on the case are facing yet more scrutiny after a delivery driver was detained and released within hours of being followed and having his home raided by cops on Tuesday night.
Nanos is now working hand-in-glove with the same federal agents who were drafted into the probe of TV star Savannah Guthrie's mother's kidnapping in Tucson
'They told me I was being detained for kidnapping. I asked them, "Kidnapping of who?"' Carlos Palazeulos told reporters after his release, adding that he had 'no idea' who Nancy or Savannah Guthrie were.
He continued: 'I hope they find the suspect, cause I'm not it - they better do their job and find the suspect that did it so they can clear my name.'
Nanos is yet to comment on the arrest and police are yet to name other suspects.
In his 2016 interview, the sheriff told the reporter he had wanted more clarity from the FBI's Tucson field office over the probe focusing on funds used on cafeteria spending.
'In terms of the FBI investigation of RICO funds, that's just crazy. It is absolutely and Mr Black (Andy Black, Tucson office director at the time) knows this.
He denied to her that RICO funds were being used to buy fridges and other equipment, adding: 'We have no access to RICO funds, never have.'
The sheriff then confusingly added: 'We bought some Tasers, OK that's an appropriate expense for RICO.'
Nanos continued: 'The FBI to me has better things to do. So I am I upset at the FBI, absolutely.
'They get by with saying no comment. Who does that in today's world? Yet they get by with that.
A 2016 video shows Tucson Sheriff Chris Nanos boasting to local station KGUN9 that his department had 'real policemen,' while deriding the FBI over its investigation into alleged misuse of RICO funds
Carlos Palazeulos, 36, aired his frustration after he was detained for allegedly kidnapping the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie last night
'And when this thing is all resolved and the case is all over, I challenge him, I challenge Mr Black to stand by himself and say we have looked at this investigation and we have exonerated, completely find this investigation is total BS. Because that's what it is.'
The FBI probe resulted in the federal indictment of the misuse of $500,000 against the chief deputy at the time, Christopher Radtke. He signed a plea deal for three misdemeanor counts of stealing public money and was given one year probation plus a $3,000 fine
Nanos lost his office shortly after the chief deputy was convicted in 2017 but was re-elected in 2020 and again in 2024.
It was after that public throwing down of the gauntlet that he made his boast about the agency now playing a critical role in the search for Nancy, amid two ransom notes and frantic efforts after the 5pm Monday deadline to hand over $6million in Bitcoin passed.
Despite his fiery on-air defense, the FBI investigation culminated in the federal indictment of then–Chief Deputy Christopher Radtke (right) for the alleged misuse of $500,000 and ultimately led to Nanos losing his office
NBC morning show co-host Savannah, 55, fought back tears in her most somber video yet on Monday, telling viewers they had reached 'our hour of desperation' as she begged for any information that could help find her kidnapped mother
NBC Morning show co-host Savannah, 55, released her most somber video yet on Monday as the hour approached, begging for information about her mother.
Looking extremely stressed but composed, she said: 'I wanted to come on and share a few thoughts as we enter another into week of this nightmare.'
'We believe our mom is still out there. we need your help.
'She was taken and we don't know where and we need your help. No matter where you are, even if you're far from Tucson… if you see anything or see anything... we are at our hour of desperation.'
The Daily Mail can reveal the sheriff's comments after exclusively disclosing the small number of investigators assigned to the Guthrie probe and their relative inexperience his big cases.
It is being handled by six homicide detectives, we have been told by a department insider. Leading the assembled unit is an investigator with only two years of homicide time under his belt.
Meanwhile, the most experienced homicide sleuth on the team still has only three years working those cases, added the insider who painted a picture of internal turmoil in the investigation.
'The group that is tasked with this incredibly high-profile and critically urgent investigation is very small,' said the sheriff's department insider who is a veteran of the agency.
Drone footage shows swelling media staging near the home of Nancy Guthrie, 84, on Tuesday, a day after her captors alleged second deadline, as sources say several officers on the case lack experience with major investigations
The current homicide sergeant has never led a murder investigation, leaving the captain to run the case while the FBI takes an increasingly prominent role in the search
'It's six detectives from homicide – which is part of the violent crime section – and the overall case detective has less than two years in that specialism.
'They are working with federal agents. But in a well-functioning agency, it would be a very senior, highly experienced detective who would be running things.'
The sheriff's department also revealed it is not handling the ransom notes aspect of the case, and the Feds are dealing with them.
A statement said Monday: 'The FBI is handling all aspects related to any ransom note(s) or communications involving the Guthrie family. Any inquiries regarding this matter should be directed to the FBI Public Affairs Office.'
Meanwhile, Nanos and other law officials are facing a potential $2million damages claim by the officer he narrowly defeated in the 2024 race for sheriff – alleging dirty tricks to win the election.
Heather Lappin, a Pima County lieutenant of 19 years standing, lost to Nanos by fewer than 500 votes.
Her attorney alleges in a formal notice of claim served on the sheriff that her decision to run against him sparked 'egregious acts of retaliation by Nanos and by certain other Nanos loyalists in the PCSD.'
The document, which is the first step ahead of a possible lawsuit, continued: 'Nanos and his cadre not only subjected Lieutenant Lappin to unwarranted disciplinary actions.. but the persons also misused their positions.. for the specific purpose of influencing the election contest.'
As Nanos and investigators work on the case, they are facing a potential $2million damages claim by Heather Lappin, a Pima County lieutenant of 19 years standing, who ran against Nanos in the 2024 race for sheriff
In her complaint, Lappin alleged Nanos and his 'loyalists' used dirty tricks to win the election and subjected her to 'unwarranted disciplinary actions'
While Nanos is now coming under daily fire for the way he's handling the case in public, the insider blamed the investigative disorder directly on the top lawman.
'The irony is that experienced detectives are available to Nanos, but they've been thrown out of homicide,' he said.
'There are two extremely experienced veteran detectives that were assigned to cold case. And now they are hovering around the outside of this inner group.'
The source also pointed to the relative peace and calm of Tucson as now exposing the lack of experience for a case that is making national news every night.
'This isn't Los Angeles or New York, we don't have hundreds of homicides a year,' he said. 'So it takes a long time for a homicide detective here to develop the necessary experience for big cases.
'Nanos and his inner circle have created the situation where none of these detectives has worked many homicides or similar cases.
'In fact, the current homicide sergeant has never worked a homicide as a detective in his life.
'It's got to the stage where the captain in charge of all the detectives is essentially steering this case because they don't have enough experience inside the unit.'
Nanos was blasted over his press conference on Thursday, with many saying they are even more puzzled over the investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance
At Friday's press conference, the FBI played a central and it appeared increasing role in answering questions.
Asked if the Feds were now effectively running the race-against-time to bring Nancy home safely, our source said: 'That's really hard to say. Everything is being played very close to the vest. It's very hard to know who's got their hands on the steering wheel.
'I wish the Feds would take it over officially. It's clear our leadership and this unit are way out over their skis on this one.'
Law enforcement has been back to Nancy's home on the affluent Catalina Hills area four times to probe and remove items, including a wired camera from her roof, a blue Subaru SUV and a broken floodlight. They have also probed a septic tank.
On the first three visits, they cordoned off the property with yellow tape then pulled it down leaving the uninhabited house unprotected each time.
That could have disastrous consequences for a prosecution if the kidnappers are brought to trial, the sheriff's office insider said.
'I mean, how many times have we given up the scene,' he said. 'They did the search warrant on Friday and then gave the house back.
'This means there is no chain of custody. So it's going to be difficult in court if this ever goes to trial.
Law enforcement has been back to Nancy's home on the affluent Catalina Hills area where they were seen probing a septic tank
They have also removed several items from the home, including a wired camera from Nancy's roof
Nanos took time off at the weekend to watch the Arizona Wildcats basketball team defeat Oklahoma State
'If you found some smoking gun inside the home on your third search, to say the chain of custody was maintained is impossible. No one is there watching the home.
'Anyone could have walked up to the property, tampered with things, removed things. That leaves a potential defense counsel with room to navigate when you have repeatedly and consistently given up the scene.'
Savannah's latest video comes after a previous emotional one she posted online on Saturday while Sheriff Nanos took time off to watch a college basketball game, as revealed in an exclusive Daily Mail photo.
He had choked back tears publicly while saying 'we're going to find her' while heading up the operation to rescue Nancy.
But as his detectives continued to grind through the weekend, he was seen in a khaki hoody top amid spectators watching number one ranked Arizona Wildcats defeat Oklahoma State 47-84 at the McKale Memorial Center in Tucson.
Another sheriff's office insider told the Daily Mail: 'It's tone deaf while Nancy is still out there.'
'Everybody deserves, of course, their time off. It's been a very stressful, hard, long week.
'But given how hard detectives and search and rescue are working, including all the overtime they're doing, it's a poor decision and it doesn't look good for the agency.
The biggest blunder has been failing to get the department's high-tech two-seater Cessna into the air around Nancy's home immediately after she was reported missing
Matt Heinz of the Pima County Board of Supervisors told the Daily Mail that delays in getting the plane airborne may have cost investigators vital opportunities
'It just seems very odd given how emotional he was throughout the week during interviews, saying he believes she's still alive and how desperate he is to find her.'
The Daily Mail has already revealed how critical mistakes were made in the crucial first hours of the investigation, including being late to deploy a vital search-and-rescue aircraft.
The biggest bungle has been to get the department's high-tech Cessna aircraft into the air around Nancy's home immediately after she was reported missing.
The two-seater plane, equipped with high-resolution thermal imaging cameras capable of scanning vast swaths of desert terrain, remained on the tarmac for roughly half a day, sources close to the sheriff's department told the Daily Mail.
There was a staffing shortage that left the department without qualified pilots to fly the plane – a shortage people familiar with the situation blamed directly on Nanos.
Matt Heinz, a member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, told the Daily Mail that failing to get the plane airborne may have cost investigators vital opportunities.
'The initial few hours of any kind of search like this are absolutely crucial,' Heinz said.
