Is Savannah Guthrie's Mother, Nancy Dead? Ex-FBI Official Suspects Possibility Amid Kidnapping News

Savannah Guthrie is currently navigating an extremely tough phase as no traces of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, have been found for over a week now. The Today Show host's 84-year-old mother has been missing from her Tucson, Arizona home after being last seen at midnight on January 31, 2026. As the police investigate the case, purported ransom notes demanding USD 6 million in bitcoin, and allegations against Nancy's daughter, Annie, and her husband, Tommaso, surfaced. Amid the buzz around the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping, an ex-FBI official weighed in on the possibility of her being already dead.

Former FBI official weighs in on the possibility of Nancy Guthrie's death

An ex-FBI official has raised significant doubt regarding whether the 84-year-old, Nancy Guthrie, is still alive, as a week passed since her disappearance from her Tucson home. Former FBI Assistant Director, Chris Swecker expressed serious doubt that a genuine kidnapping is occurring during his February 2026 conversation with Fox News. He pointed to the lack of "proof of life" and the suspicious jump in ransom demands from USD 1 million to USD 6 million. Sharing his concerns, he stated:

"I'm very skeptical of this. Is this really a kidnapping? Does somebody really have her, and is she really alive?"

According to Chris Swecker, Nancy Guthrie's family must be open to possibilities other than abduction. The reason was that no evidence had been "credibly authenticated at this point." He noted that if it was a legitimate kidnapping, providing proof of life would be simple, if the kidnappers had not done so even after repeated requests of Nancy's children via social media. Chris suggested the case might be "something other than a kidnapping," weighing on the possibility that Savannah Guthrie's mother may have passed away shortly after the kidnapper(s) initial break-in and attempt to take her away forcefully. He mentioned:

"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."

What did the initial police investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance reveal?

The initial investigation into the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mom revealed evidence of a "nighttime kidnapping." The Pima County Sheriff's Office confirmed there was evidence of forced entry at Nancy Guthrie's home and is coordinating with the FBI. Police believe she was taken from her home against her will. As details of her limited mobility, including the fact that she "couldn't walk 50 yards by herself", were shared by her daughter, it ruled out the possibility that Nancy wandered off. Nancy Guthrie's cellphone, wallet, and vehicle were all still at the residence when she vanished.

Nancy's items were treated as forensic evidence, and DNA samples were collected and processed. However, the early results matched only Nancy Guthrie herself and did not point to a specific suspect. Amid that, some conflicting reports emerged regarding a "blood trail" at the scene; however, the sheriff declined to provide specific details on the piece of evidence. Amid that, a ransom note demanding USD 6 million was sent to several media outlets, including TMZ.

What is the latest update regarding Nancy Guthrie's kidnapping?

The Nancy Guthrie case has entered a critical phase following the expiration of a second ransom deadline demanding USD 6 million in Bitcoin. As the deadline of February 9, 2026, 7:00 p.m. (ET) passed without any confirmation of communication or payment, Savannah Guthrie made an emotional plea for help in an Instagram video. In the clip, also featuring her siblings, Annie and Camron Guthrie, the Today Show host described the family's situation as an "hour of desperation." She urged anyone with even minor information about Nancy to contact law enforcement. The video gained even more traction as Annie and her husband were recently named suspects in the case by a journalist.

Why are Annie Guthrie and her husband, Tommaso Cioni, linked to Nancy Guthrie's disappearance?

NewsNation journalist, Ashleigh Banfield claimed on her podcast that Cioni was a "prime suspect," citing an unverified law enforcement source. Annie Guthrie and her husband, Tommaso Cioni, are under intense scrutiny as they were among the last people to see Nancy Guthrie before she disappeared from her Tucson home on January 31, 2026. Tommaso reportedly drove Nancy home after a family dinner on Saturday night ET and confirmed she was safely inside at approximately 9:30 p.m. Ashleigh Banfield reported that a trusted source considered him a "prime suspect" due to the timeline of his meetup with Nancy and her abduction.

Did the police declare Annie Guthrie and Tommaso Cioni as suspects in the Nancy Guthrie case?

Both the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff's Department have stated that there are currently no named suspects or persons of interest in the Nancy Guthrie missing case. Sheriff Chris Nanos emphasised that they are "looking at everyone" who had contact with Nancy as a standard procedure. Authorities have interviewed family members and reportedly impounded a vehicle as part of the investigation. As of February 2026, the FBI is continuing to search the couple's Tucson home; however, some unverified X (formerly Twitter) posts claimed that Annie and Tommaso were not present at the home during the search.

Investigators have not received any updates on Nancy Guthrie's whereabouts, even over a week after her disappearance. The Guthrie family still awaits some hopeful news.

Also Read: Tommaso Cioni's Alleged Gambling Debt Linked To Savannah Guthrie's Mother, Nancy's Kidnapping?

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