A former FBI special agent has analyzed footage of Nancy Guthrie's abduction and concluded that the suspect is a 'strangely unprofessional amateur' criminal. The 84-year-old mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie was taken from her home in the Catalina Foothills near Tucson, Arizona, on February 1 in what authorities describe as a 'targeted' kidnapping.
Footage reveals amateur behavior
Chip Massey, a former FBI hostage negotiator, examined doorbell camera footage that captured a masked individual approaching Nancy's porch shortly before the camera was disconnected. Massey noted several signs of inexperience: 'The way he tries to get lower to disguise his gait and height, how he tries to cover up the camera, that's not something an experienced criminal would do,' he told the Daily Mail.
He also pointed out that the suspect's gun holster was improperly worn on the front, making it easy for someone to grab the weapon, and that the gloves appeared too large to handle a gun effectively. Massey added that blood found at the scene indicated a struggle inside the home, which a professional would have avoided.
Ransom notes and investigation
Since the disappearance, at least three ransom notes demanding millions of dollars in cryptocurrency have been delivered. Some claimed to know the kidnappers' identities and to have footage of 'the day she died.' However, a senior FBI official told Reuters last week that 'none of the ransom notes are believed to be genuine.' The FBI later clarified in a statement that while some notes were deemed extortion attempts without legitimacy, 'other ransom demands may potentially be legitimate and are still being investigated as such.'
The case continues to be treated as a kidnapping for ransom. Despite significant law enforcement resources and a reward of up to $1 million offered by the family, Nancy's whereabouts remain unknown three months later.
Family pleas
Savannah Guthrie, 54, has made several emotional public appeals alongside her family. In one plea, she said: '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.'
