Nancy Guthrie News: Expert Says Kidnappers ‘Didn’t Care’ If She Died, ‘Tortured’ Family With Notes

As the search for Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy Guthrie, continues, NewsNation contributor Jennifer Coffindaffer said that law enforcement has a motive for the 84-year-old’s kidnapping.

“[Law enforcement] said they know the motive for the abduction of Nancy and they have known it from the beginning,” Coffindaffer wrote via X on Sunday, April 12.

“Kidnapping for Ransom. Nancy sadly died,” the former FBI agent continued. “The kidnappers didn’t care and tortured the family with 2 notes knowing the FBI would not recommend paying a ransom without proof of life.”

As In Touch previously reported, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said in March that he and his department “know why” Nancy was taken.

“We believe we know why he did this and we believe that it was targeted,” Nanos explained. “We’re not 100 percent sure of that, so it would be silly to tell people, ‘Yeah, don’t worry about it. You’re not his target.’”

Nancy was last seen on January 31 after she was dropped off by daughter Annie Guthrie and son-in-law Tommaso Cioni at her Catalina Foothills home. The next morning, she failed to show up to watch a streaming church service with a friend, and Nancy’s family was made aware.

Earlier this month, detective Brian Martin weighed in on the case during an episode of Brian Entin Investigates.

“What really bothers me is if they underestimated Ms. Guthrie’s health and thought, ‘We’ll take her. This will be easy. We’ll hold onto her at an unknown location for a day or two. We’ll get some money out of this, and we’ll leave her in a Walmart parking lot,’ ” Martin said during his April 7 appearance.

He added that he was concerned that Nancy had potentially suffered a “medical event before any of that could take place” and now, the suspects don’t have anyone to return in exchange for a ransom.

“If they didn’t intend for her to die and then that happened, it would explain why now they’re not even trying to collect the ransom because they are going to be in big trouble now,” host Entin pointed out. “It’s felony murder, I would think.”

Since Nancy’s disappearance, there have been few major developments in the case. Savannah, 54, has made multiple pleas for the kidnapper to return her mother, but to no avail. The family has also offered up to $1 million in reward money.

People with any information regarding the case are asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). You may also contact your local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or you can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.