So far, no update about Nancy Guthrie's being alive or dead has been given to the Guthrie family. Now, the ex-FBI assistant director wonders if Nancy has actually been kidnapped.
The details of Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie, are still unclear. As the investigation enters another week, the family is hopeful that their mother is alive and they will reunite soon, as many are praying for her safe return. Amidst it, an ex-FBI assistant director wondered if the reports about her kidnapping were true or if someone was trying to take advantage of the situation.
Former FBI Assistant Director, Chris Swecker, shared his insights into the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie. He pointed out that the way ransom demands kept changing, and no verified proof of life was given to the family. Swecker questioned why the ransom amount changed from USD 1 million to USD 6 million within a short period. He stated that he believes that there's a third party that might be taking advantage of the situation. He was quoted as saying:
"I really think there's a third party here that's just playing with them, opportunists who think they can exploit this situation."
It is worth mentioning that since Nancy's disappearance from her home, there have been two messages that claimed to be ransom notes. One of them was sent to multiple media outlets. He further expressed doubt that 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie was alive and being held by kidnappers. As per him, the situation is highly doubtful. He said:
"I'm very skeptical of this. Is this really a kidnapping? Does somebody really have her, and is she really alive?"
Savannah and her siblings had reportedly agreed to pay a ransom amount, which was reportedly USD 6 million, to bring their mother back. But as per the ex-FBI official, in genuine kidnapping cases, there is a proof of life which is given, which has not been shared or verified in Nancy Guthrie's case. He explained:
"If this was a kidnapping, it would be a very simple matter to authenticate and provide proof of life. You have to allow for the possibility that this was something more or something other than a kidnapping."
It is worth mentioning that Nancy's disappearance news came in a picture after she missed church on February 1, 2026. Soon, the message was sent to Savannah, who called her back, but there was no answer. Later, Nancy was found nowhere near her home. When police investigated the matter, they found out that the 84-year-old didn't leave the home of her own will, but rather, she was forced.
The officials even found blood outside her home. It was later confirmed that it was Nancy's blood, and she was taken against her will. Another suspicious part of the investigation is that Nancy's doorbell camera stopped functioning around 1:47 a.m. While the camera went offline, motion was recorded around 2:12 a.m., leaving a 20-minute gap in the footage.
Savannah shared another video on her Instagram handle and revealed how they have entered another horrific week with the search to find her mother. She stated that their family was at an 'hour of desperation'. Savannah shared that her family believes that Nancy is feeling everyone's prayers in these times of struggle. And that she is still out there,e and hence, they need everyone's help. She added that law enforcement is working around the clock, and she doesn't know where she has been taken. Savannah urged people to come forward and share information about her. She said:
"If you see anything, you hear anything, if there's anything at all that seems strange to you, that you report to law enforcement, we are at an hour of desperation. And we need your help."
The final deadline to pay the ransom money was set for 5 p.m. on February 9, 2026, and has also passed. While the investigation is still ongoing, there is no suspect in the matter. As the deadline to pay the ransom has passed, many are wondering if Savannah and her sibling paid the amount. For the unversed, the abductor had asked to deliver the money in cryptocurrency to a specific Bitcoin address. Regarding the bitcoin account, it was set up to accept money in exchange for Nancy Gurthrie but is empty, with a balance of USD 0 and no transactions, according to the New York Post. It is worth noting that support.bitcoin.com: these transactions may take longer to appear in the account. Sometimes it is less than an hour, sometimes under 30 minutes, and the fastest takes about 0-20 minutes.
What do you think about Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie's disappearance case?
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