Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has been in the national spotlight during news conferences on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. He has been sheriff of Pima County for six of his 50 years in law enforcement. He oversees a 1,500-person department that covers more than 9,000 square miles of unincorporated Pima County.

Sheriff Chris Nanos spotted at basketball game as Savannah Guthrie's family makes third plea for missing mother's return after alleged ransom message.

Authorities are "inspecting" the message for its authenticity.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department issued a statement countering reports that they have a suspect in mind for the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie's mother.

The Pima County Sheriff's Office said Patrick Gary Schlegal, 34, a U.S. citizen from Sahuarita, fled from law enforcement at around 7 a.m. after police attempted to stop a vehicle believed to be involved in human smuggling.

It has been one week since the family of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie last spoke with her, as the Pima County Sheriff’s Department continues to piece together the details of her disappearance. Sheriff Chris Nanos said he believes Guthrie was taken from her home in the middle of the night.

Authorities investigating the apparent kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie returned to her Arizona neighborhood several times over the weekend, ahead of a Monday evening deadline set by her purported abductors who sent ransom notes demanding money for her return.