Sheriff Chris Nanos — already facing growing heat over the still-unsolved disappearance of Nancy Guthrie — is now being dragged into a new courtroom fight.
An inmate at the Pima County Jail has filed a lawsuit seeking $1.35 million in damages, accusing Nanos and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department of putting his health at risk and subjecting him to “cruel and unusual punishment,” according to the filing.
The plaintiff, 54-year-old Christopher Michael Marx, alleges the jail’s COVID protocols were ignored when a deputy allegedly moved back and forth between Marx’s unit and another unit that had been quarantined after an inmate tested positive.
In his complaint, Marx claims the deputy didn’t properly disinfect between assignments — and even served meals between the two units — while Marx’s unit was placed on lockdown because the deputy was working both areas.
Marx alleges that failure created a serious health risk and says Nanos didn’t do enough to ensure safety procedures were followed.
“I could have died,” Marx wrote in the filing, while also demanding an apology.
Marx, who was convicted of shoplifting in 2024, is seeking $1.35 million in compensation. He also claims he wants the money to be used for an unusual cause: funding rent-free apartments for homeless people for six months, with “no strings attached.”
The lawsuit — filed March 5 — lands as Nanos continues to face intense scrutiny over the search for Nancy Guthrie, the missing mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie.
Nancy was last seen on January 31, and authorities have not publicly identified or arrested a suspect. Investigators have reportedly been working through thousands of tips as the case drags on.
Nanos has also taken criticism for decisions made early in the investigation — including claims that the crime scene was processed too quickly and the home was released in under 48 hours, which critics say opened the door to media access and disturbing footage from outside the residence.
The pressure on Nanos isn’t new. In past comments reported elsewhere, former deputy Bob Krygier claimed a deputy morale poll once showed overwhelming “no confidence” sentiment toward the sheriff.
Authorities have pointed to doorbell-camera images showing a masked individual outside Nancy’s home, wearing black gloves, a holster, and an Ozark Trail backpack. While the suspect’s face was largely covered, the footage reportedly showed visible details like the person’s eyes, eyebrows, and general build — but no identification has been confirmed publicly.
For now, the missing-person investigation remains active — and Nanos is facing a new wave of unwanted attention as this inmate lawsuit moves forward through the courts.
Oh, shut up, criminal.