In a Fox News appearance, former FBI assistant director Chris Swecker said investigators still face a basic question in the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie: “Is this really a kidnapping? Does somebody have her, and is she really alive? We don’t have the answers to that question right now,” he said, as quoted by Fox News. Swecker said authorities may be continuing searches while allowing for the possibility it is not a kidnapping.
The discussion comes as the FBI and Pima County investigators seek leads regarding the case and warn citizens about messages associated with this case that might be untrustworthy. In his latest update on the case, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos stated, “We believe Nancy is still out there,” though the sheriff admitted there was no evidence that his daughter was alive, according to the Virginia Times. The sheriff further stated that the blood detected at Nancy’s home was verified to be Nancy’s through DNA and that they were exploring ransom demands, though one was later identified as a hoax, according to the Virginia Times.
An FBI reward announcement on Thursday offered up to a sum of $50,000 for information that might result in recovery or lead to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved. It claimed that Guthrie was last seen at her Catalina Foothills home in Tucson, Ariz., on the evening of January 31, 2026.
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have already communicated with whoever is holding their mother. In a video she posted on Instagram, she was seen saying, “We received your message, and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”
No suspects have been named, and no arrests have been reported. The apparent ransom notes, distributed through media outlets, have included deadlines. Fox reported a deadline of 5 p.m. Monday local time. The outlet also reported that the note threatened her life if the demand was not met.
CNN affiliate KGUN 9 reportedly received a ransom demand seeking Nancy’s return, with the letter referencing a $6 million payment. However, KGUN later clarified: “Law enforcement has not confirmed the ransom amount referenced in the letter.” The payment was reported to be requested in Bitcoin, as described in coverage of the alleged note.
The authorities continue to ask the public for credible information as they make sense of the real information and the noise in the ever-growing homicide case.
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
