Nancy Guthrie Likely to be Deceased but 'Big Clue' into Kidnapping Could Finally Expose Suspect

Nancy Guthrie has not been found nearly two months after she was first reported missing from her home in Tucson, Arizona, as her family continues to negotiate with those believed responsible for her abduction.

The case took a sombre turn last month when her daughter, Savannah Guthrie, acknowledged the possibility that her mother may have already passed away. The 84-year-old required daily medication, raising concerns over her survival.

The 'Big Clue' in Nancy Guthrie's Case

A former FBI agent has argued that the motive for Nancy's kidnapping has always been clear, and that identifying it could help expose those responsible. Jennifer Coffindaffer addressed the 'big clue' that Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos had publicly disclosed the previous week, saying the prevailing theory has been that Nancy was abducted for ransom. The family had said it would pay whatever was demanded to secure her return, but Coffindaffer suggested the conditions may not have been met in time.

One of those conditions was that the abductors provide proof that Nancy was still alive. Coffindaffer said the kidnappers were unable to do so, which she believes indicates Guthrie was already deceased by that point.

She also said the motive could be what ultimately leads investigators to the suspects. 'The big clue he gave, I thought, was about motive. He starts off saying, "yes, we have what we believe to be the motive," which is huge, because whenever you find motive, you find suspect,' she told a news outlet.

Differing Views on the Public Warning

Sheriff Nanos warned the public that Nancy's abductors may target others, urging people not to assume they were safe. 'It'd be silly to tell people, "Yeah, don't worry about it. You're not his target. Don't think for a minute that because it happened to the Guthrie family, you're safe,"' he said.

That warning was disputed by former FBI agent Jason Pack, who argued that Nanos should not have issued such a statement without supporting detail. Speaking with another outlet, Pack said issuing a public warning without actionable context risks alarming rather than protecting the public.

'Once you put that out there, every person watching wants to know who's at risk and what they ought to do about it. If you can't answer those questions, you probably shouldn't lead with that statement. A warning without context doesn't necessarily protect people. It worries them. And it sits a little uneasily alongside the "targeted attack" framing he's also offered,' Pack said.

Savannah Guthrie Holds on to Her Faith

Earlier this month, Savannah appeared on the 'Today' show to thank her colleagues for their support. She said she had not given up hope of being reunited with her mother.

'I wanted you to know that I'm still standing, and I still have hope, and I'm still me. And I don't know what version of me that will be, but it will be. I'm holding onto my faith. I still believe. And as my mom would say, "where else would I go?"' she said.