BREAKING NEWS: SHERIFF IN NANCY GUTHRIE INVESTIGATION NOW FACING A $176 MILLION LAWSUIT IN SEPARATE SHOOTING CASE AS SCRUTINY OF THE DEPARTMENT GROWS

The sheriff whose department has been under intense public scrutiny for its handling of the Nancy Guthrie disappearance is now facing another major legal challenge—this time over an unrelated deputy-involved shooting that has resulted in a $176 million lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed by Axeel Melendez, a 24-year-old Arizona man who was left paralyzed after deputies responded to what authorities later determined was a false emergency call, commonly known as a “swatting” incident. According to the complaint, Melendez had previously warned the sheriff’s office that he believed he was being targeted by a hacker who threatened to make a fake 911 report. His attorneys allege deputies nevertheless forced entry into his home and shot him, even though he posed no immediate threat. The sheriff’s office has not commented on the pending litigation.

The lawsuit comes as the Pima County Sheriff’s Office continues to face criticism over its investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, whose case remains unsolved months after she vanished. Recent reporting has highlighted alleged investigative missteps during the early stages of the case, although Sheriff Chris Nanos has disputed those criticisms and maintains that the investigation remains active.

Separately, individuals who were previously detained or identified during the Nancy Guthrie investigation have also filed legal claims against the sheriff’s office, alleging wrongful detention, reputational harm, and other misconduct. Those claims remain unresolved, and the department has generally declined to comment because of ongoing litigation.

Meanwhile, the search for Nancy Guthrie continues. Investigators, with assistance from federal agencies, continue reviewing evidence while her family urges anyone with information to come forward. Despite months of investigation, no one has been charged in connection with her disappearance, and authorities have not announced a breakthrough.

As legal battles mount and public scrutiny intensifies, two separate stories are now placing the sheriff’s office under an even brighter spotlight—while Nancy Guthrie’s family continues waiting for the answers they have sought for months.