Last weekend, Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of renowned NBC “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, went missing from her residence in Arizona. A neighbor recently disclosed to the media that a few days ago, he saw a suspicious white van on the street.
According to the Pima County police, Nancy was last seen near her residence in Tucson around 9:30 p.m. last Saturday (January 31st). Initially, the police did not reveal details of the case, but later on Monday (February 2nd), they confirmed that it was indeed a criminal case.
Investigators revealed that there were traces of blood from the entrance of the house along the driveway, leading them to believe a crime had taken place. At a press conference on Thursday (February 5th), the police confirmed that the blood belonged to Nancy.
Authorities currently believe that Nancy was forcibly taken from her home, potentially abducted or lured away.
Neighbor Brett McIntire, who lives across from Nancy, told the New York Post that he had recently seen the unmarked van parked on the roadside. He reported this information to the police.
McIntire mentioned that the van had no visible markings and stood out as most service vehicles typically have some form of identification. He has since started carrying pen and paper with him when he goes out, noting down any unusual incidents. McIntire’s wife expressed concerns about their safety and is considering installing surveillance cameras despite having a secure iron gate at their home.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi spoke on the ongoing investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance on Friday morning (February 6th), stating that her office is working closely with local law enforcement to assist in any way possible.
“We are collaborating with the local residents,” Bondi said.
“I am heartbroken for Savannah and her family. I know she has asked for prayers, so please pray for her. Pray for her beautiful mother, pray for her family, and hope for her safe return. At this time, we can only say so much,” Bondi added. She also mentioned knowing Savannah Guthrie for over 30 years.
Heith Janke, the head of the FBI’s Arizona office, stated on Thursday that FBI agents, analysts, and professionals are tirelessly working with their law enforcement partners day and night.
FBI experts involved in this case investigation include:
– The FBI Crisis Response Team: Experts in this team are stationed in Washington D.C. and are always ready to be deployed via FBI emergency mission planes to assist in major incidents. This includes crisis negotiators who are currently working with the Guthrie family to address potentially ransom-related unconfirmed reports. Additionally, there are FBI Offender Profilers specialized in studying criminal behavior.
– Mobile Forensics Experts: Officials stated that members of the FBI Mobile Analysis Investigation Team are actively engaged in the case. These technical experts excel in utilizing cell tower data to determine devices that may have been present near the crime scene during criminal activity.
– Intelligence Analysts: Well-trained intelligence analysts are collaborating with FBI agents to carefully examine evidence from the crime scene, scrutinize public tips, and establish a crucial timeline for tracking the movements of the suspect.