Sheriff in Nancy Guthrie Case: Sue Online Sleuths for Libel
In a rare step, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has urged an Arizona man who was wrongly accused in the Nancy Guthrie case to sue online sleuths for libel. Calling the ordeal the man is under "horrible," Nanos said he is "going through hell" and should consult attorneys.
Why Chris Nanos Just Encouraged an Arizona Man to Sue Online Sleuths
On February 25, 2026, the New York Post reported on comments that Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos made about Dominic Evans. A group of online sleuths who were seeking to solve the Nancy Guthrie case had come to believe Evans, 48, was involved. When asked about the impact on Evans, Nanos responded bluntly, encouraging him to sue for libel.
“He’s going through hell and it is horrible. And I don’t know what to tell him except he probably should be speaking with some attorneys and sue some of these people for libel.”
Since Nancy Guthrie disappeared, the case has drawn intense global attention to the search for Savannah Guthrie's mom and those who are responsible for what happened to her. That has resulted in Nanos being on the receiving end of a great deal of online criticism over how he has handled the case. Nanos even released a statement to our sister publication, Parade, about the flood of criticism he has faced.
“Right now, our focus is on this investigation and serving the victims and this community. Internal or political commentary distracts from this active investigation, and it is very unfortunate. My focus remains on justice and transparency.”
Perhaps the intense scrutiny he has faced explains why Nanos empathized with Evans enough to suggest a libel lawsuit
Dominic Evans Just Spoke Out on the Effects of Being Accused of Nancy Guthrie’s Kidnapping
On February 25, 2026, the New York Times published an article that chronicled what happened to Dominic Evans after online sleuths suggested he could be involved in Nancy Guthrie's kidnapping. Evans, a fifth-grade Arizona teacher, came under suspicion after it was discovered that he played drums in a band with Nancy Guthrie's son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni. Some observers also grew to believe that Evans looks like the suspect seen in the doorbell camera footage taken at the Guthrie home.
Ultimately, Evans was doxxed when his home address, which he shares with his wife and children, was leaked online. That led to dozens of people showing up outside his Tucson home overnight, forcing the couple to send their children away for their safety. His wife, Andrea Evans, told the Times that the ordeal left her feeling "scared numb," and that, “It was all night looking through the window, trying to not let any light out of our home.”