Mother of US TV Host Savannah Guthrie Believed Alive After Kidnapping
The mother of prominent US television host Savannah Guthrie is believed to be alive after police allege she was kidnapped from her home in Tucson, Arizona, over the weekend. Authorities have confirmed they are treating the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie as a kidnapping case and are actively investigating multiple ransom demands.
Ransom Notes and Investigation Details
On Wednesday, a ransom note was sent to news outlet TMZ demanding millions of dollars in Bitcoin. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed on Thursday that the department had received more than one ransom note and said investigators were taking them seriously. The FBI has shared a ransom note with Savannah Guthrie, although Sheriff Nanos has not confirmed whether it is the same note sent to TMZ.
"It's like any piece of evidence," Nanos told CBS News. "You give it to us, you give us a lead, we're going to look at every aspect of that lead."
Authorities maintain their belief that Nancy Guthrie remains alive. "We have nothing else to go on but the belief that she is here," Nanos told NBC. "She's present. She's alive, and we want to save her."
Timeline and Medical Concerns
Nancy Guthrie was last seen alive on Saturday (US time) and was reported missing the following day by family members after she failed to attend church. Adding urgency to the investigation is the fact that Nancy requires daily medication to survive, raising concerns about her wellbeing during captivity.
Police Response and Speculation
Despite online speculation, the sheriff's department has confirmed there is no suspect in the case, including claims her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, may be involved. "We have not identified a suspect or person of interest in this case. Detectives continue to speak with anyone who may have had contact with Mrs Guthrie. We are also awaiting additional forensic results," the department said in a statement to TMZ.
Cioni became a focus of public speculation after police searched his vehicle. Former Navy SEAL and FBI special agent Jonathan T. Gilliam explained that such scrutiny is common when a person was the last known individual to see the victim alive, but it does not indicate police believe he was involved.
"I think in any case, the last people who had something to do with the victim are going to be investigated in some way, shape or form," Gilliam said. "And I do believe, if I'm remembering correctly, he's the one who dropped her off and was the last person to see her."
Statistical Context and Rarity of Ransom Cases
Jeff Wenninger, a former LAPD Lieutenant, noted that in his experience, only about 5 per cent of abductions include a ransom demand. "Generally speaking, when you have an abduction, it's some type of an incident regarding a domestic dispute or the commission of another crime like robbery or sexual assault," he said.
Wenninger suggested statistically, the person responsible is likely someone Nancy knew. He emphasized that the ransom notes need close examination for authenticity. "What you'd be really looking at here is something that would determine that the person who sent this is sending something authentic in regards to they know something that only the person abducted would know," Wenninger explained.
Evidence Analysis and Home Security
Investigators have confirmed the video camera at Nancy's front door was removed, but Gilliam cautioned this does not necessarily point to a highly sophisticated crime. He explained that footage from the incident could be stored in the cloud, though many users don't sign up for that service.
"Most of these home security cameras work on a cloud. There's not anything being recorded in the camera itself," he said. "So if somebody took that camera thinking that they were going to hide something, then they're obviously not that sophisticated."
However, Gilliam noted the camera removal suggests prior knowledge of the home, with elements pointing to a targeted attack rather than random crime. "Statistically, this type of an abduction or a killing made to look like an abduction that has no robbery and is within a victim's home where it appears that she's been watched, that is typically a family member or a close acquaintance, or somebody that lives close by that has watched her," he said.
Police continue to analyse all available evidence as the desperate search for Nancy Guthrie enters its fourth day without significant breakthroughs in the case.
