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By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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A law enforcement expert has explained why he believes the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie is a case of a "targeted abduction."
In an interview last week with NBC News, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators believe they know the motive for the crime but he reportedly withheld details of the investigators’ theory, citing the integrity of the investigation.
Morgan Wright, the CEO and founder of the National Center for Open and Unsolved Cases, told NewsNation’s Brian Entin on Brian Entin Investigates on Thursday: "I think if I were testing a hypothesis, the one I would be testing is a targeted abduction.
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"Why? Because the trade craft, just the sheer logistics, the mechanisms of control. When you target somebody for abduction, you have to have transportation. You have to have logistics."
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The Context
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing for more than six weeks. She was last seen at her home on January 31 in Tucson, Arizona, and was reported missing the following day. Authorities believe she was kidnapped and said drops of her blood were found on the front porch of her home. Since the first days of her disappearance, authorities have expressed concern about her health because she needs vital daily medication.
On February 10, the FBI released video from a doorbell camera showing a man wearing a ski mask, a jacket, long pants, gloves and a handgun holster on Guthrie's porch on the night she disappeared. Authorities have not publicly identified the person, whom they called a suspect, but the FBI described him as a male about 5-foot-9 or 5-foot-10 with an average build and said he was carrying a 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.
Multiple news outlets reported receiving purported ransom notes last month, including at least one demanding payment in cryptocurrency for the 84-year-old's release, but authorities have not said whether the notes were authentic.
What To Know
Wright said there had to be at least another accomplice involved in the abduction.
"The longer this goes on, the more it appears to be a targeted abduction," he said. "To me, it's a targeted abduction that went wrong. They were expecting her to survive. She didn't survive."
Wright also said he would consider the possibility that Guthrie may have left her door unlocked on the night she disappeared.
"What's the probability that Nancy went to bed that night like any other night, came home from her kids, maybe a little tired cause she's 84, goes to sleep, and just didn't lock her door? That's the opportunistic nature of a targeted abduction."
Wright added that if it was a case of a burglary, he would expect to see "signs of theft" at the crime scene.
"If it was a staged crime scene, Brian, I will tell you right now, my belief then, I would be leaning very heavily towards targeted abduction," he said.
In last week's interview with NBC News, Nanos said investigators believe Guthrie's kidnapping was targeted, but he warned that residents should remain wary as the suspect could "absolutely" strike again.
The Pima County Sheriff's Office has previously said that although investigators were seeking information "related to the person seen on video, investigators are not ruling out the possibility that more than one person may be involved."
Nanos has come under increasing scrutiny over his handling of the case, with critics accusing him of making several mistakes early in the investigation and a congressional candidate launching an effort to recall him. Nanos responded to the recall effort on Wednesday, saying in a statement to Newsweek that "it’s the right of the people."
The sheriff has acknowledged missteps, including that he should have waited longer to release Guthrie’s home to her family. Before authorities resecured the scene to collect additional evidence, reporters had been able to walk up to the front door to photograph blood droplets that the sheriff said were Guthrie’s. Critics also said the sheriff waited too long to get security camera footage from Guthrie’s home and from neighbors.
What People Are Saying
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told NBC News: "We believe we know why he did this, and we believe that it was targeted. But we can't—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.'"
He added: "Don't think for a minute that because it happened to the Guthrie family, you're safe. No, keep your wits about you."
Savannah Guthrie said on Instagram on March 2: "We feel the love and prayers from our neighbors, from the Tucson community and from around the country.…Please don't stop praying and hoping with us. bring her home."
What Happens Next
Anyone with information about Nancy Guthrie is urged to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), 520-351-4900 or 88-CRIME or visit tips.fbi.gov.
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