The alleged abductor in the missing case of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, appeared to know exactly what they were doing in what might have been a thoroughly planned kidnapping.
Signs around Nancy’s home in Tucson, Arizona, suggested that she may have been “stalked” for a while before her disappearance.
“This was personal, somebody wanted to ‘wipe the “sMuG” smile off of Savannah's face,’” one speculated online.
Highlights
- Experts believe that Nancy Guthrie’s alleged abductor appeared to know exactly what they were doing.
- Signs around the house suggested that the perpetrator specifically targeted her home in Tucson, Arizona.
- The alleged abductor spent about 45 minutes around the house without leaving behind any DNA evidence.
Nancy Guthrie's alleged abductor appeared to know exactly what they were doing in what appeared to be a meticulously planned kidnapping
Image credits: Savannah Guthrie
In the evening of Saturday, January 31, 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie had taken an Uber to her daughter Annie’s house, which was about 10 minutes away from her affluent, secluded neighborhood of Catalina Foothills.
She had dinner and played games with relatives at the house before Tommaso Cioni, her son-in-law and Annie’s husband, dropped her home at around 9:45 p.m.
By 1:47 a.m. on Sunday, the doorbell camera went dark, and authorities believe someone had disconnected and removed it.
Image credits: Savannah Guthrie
The perpetrator seemingly knew where the security cameras were.
But “that doesn’t always mean it’s a family member. That could mean it’s a stalker,” Former CIA member and FBI special agent Tracy Walder told Page Six.
At around 02:28 a.m., the app on Nancy’s pacemaker (an implanted cardiac device) was disconnected from her phone.
The doorbell camera went dark around 1:47 a.m., and it is suspected someone had disconnected and removed it
Image credits: CBS News
When the mother-of-three didn’t show up to church the same Sunday, authorities were informed about her disappearance. They arrived at the scene to find her phone, wallet, and car at the property.
Blood spatters outside her front door were confirmed to be Nancy’s.
Image credits: Savannah Guthrie
“There’s no way this is a robbery gone wrong,” Tracy said. “You’re not going to bring the person with you. There’s no way this is random.”
The expert said she believes the person, who likely planned the attack, may have known about Nancy’s health condition.
“Maybe this person knew to have medication for her in it,” she added.
Nancy's son-in-law Tommaso Cioni is believed to be the last person who saw her before she was taken away against her will
Image credits: Nancy Guthrie
Tracy explained that the lack of DNA evidence in the house also suggested that the alleged abductor was prepared.
“This is a person who is clearly suited up and gloved up, right? Even though they may have surprised [Nancy] in her sleep, I find it very hard to believe that she wouldn’t have fought back a little bit in some way,” she told the outlet.
The expert further said that even though Nancy was 84 and wasn’t in the best of health, it is still “human nature” to “respond,” which means “DNA could have gone places.”
Image credits: Nancy Guthrie
It is believed the perpetrator spent about 45 minutes inside Nancy’s home before allegedly taking her against her will.
Tracy believed that she was likely targeted not only because her daughter Savannah is a popular media personality but also because Nancy's personal details, like phone number, email, and home address were available online.
“I also think because of the fact [Nancy’s] home is set so far back, if this is just some random person, I think they probably stalked her for some time and got a pattern life … Her comings and goings and those kinds of things,” she said.
“This is someone that either had some kind of obsession with Savannah ... [or] some kind of beef with [her],” an expert said
Image credits: NBC News
The former special agent further talked about a possible motive in the case and believes it wasn’t just about money.
“I just in my gut, feel like this is someone that either had some kind of obsession with Savannah because of how high-profile she is, and this was a way to potentially get to her,” she said.
“Or this is a person that has some kind of beef with Savannah because of whatever story she covered, whoever she interviewed, any of those.”
Nancy's children and family members have been sharing emotional pleas to help find her
Image credits: savannahguthrie
Tracy asserted that she wasn’t convinced it’s “fully about money” or “solely about the ransom.”
Five days after Nancy vanished, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators are still working with the belief that she is still alive and will “continue thinking that way until [they] find her.”
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said they still believe the missing mother-of-three is alive
Image credits: NBC News
Savannah’s brother, Camron Guthrie, was seen making a plea on social media on behalf of the entire family, asking for the perpetrator to reach out to them.
“Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you,” the son was heard saying.
“We need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward,” he continued. “But first, we have to know that you have our mom, and we want to talk to you.”
Camron Guthrie shared a video message asking the perpetrator to reach out to them
Fellow former FBI agent Michael Harrigan said once the perpetrator makes contact, the first thing to do would be to gain evidence of Nancy still being alive.
“If the ransom note is valid, it’s critical they establish a communication line with the kidnappers. That’s their best-case scenario. They need to know that she’s still alive and that she’s okay,” he told the New York Post.
“Secondarily, that provides more opportunity to identify who they are and the circumstances of the abduction,” he added.
Netizens had plenty to say following the latest developments in the case
