A federal judge has thrown out a $1.35 million lawsuit against Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, the Arizona lawman spearheading the search for missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC's Savannah Guthrie.
The suit, filed in March by inmate Christopher Michael Marx, accused Nanos and the sheriff's department of violating the Arizona Constitution's Declaration of Rights. Marx, who is incarcerated at the Pima County Jail, claimed a deputy failed to disinfect properly and that Nanos did not ensure adequate COVID-19 containment, even after another unit was quarantined due to an inmate infection.
On July 1, a judge dismissed the case without prejudice after Marx failed to pay filing and administration fees or submit a request to proceed without prepaying those costs, according to court records. A dismissal without prejudice leaves the door open for Marx to refile the suit in the future.
The ruling provides a legal reprieve for Nanos, who has been in the national spotlight for his handling of the Guthrie kidnapping investigation. The case has drawn intense media scrutiny, with the FBI treating it as a ransom kidnapping. Investigators believe Guthrie was abducted from her home in the early hours of February 1.
In the days following her disappearance, ransom notes were sent to the family and media outlets. Recent reports indicated one note suggested Guthrie had died. None of the demands led to her recovery or the identification of suspects.
The lawsuit's dismissal does not affect the ongoing search for Guthrie. Meanwhile, Nanos has warned the public about a QR code scam tied to the Guthrie case, urging caution amid the high-profile investigation.
Legal experts say the dismissal is a procedural setback for Marx but not a final judgment on the merits of his claims. The case highlights the broader legal landscape around inmate lawsuits over COVID-19 protocols, which have seen varied outcomes in courts nationwide.
Nanos remains a key figure in the search for Guthrie, with the sheriff's office continuing to follow leads. The FBI has said the case remains a priority.
