US4 min(s) read
Published 13:36 02 Jun 2026 GMT
A forensic scientist has presented a new theory about the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, months on from the mysterious incident.
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of TV news host Savannah Guthrie, was last seen on the night of January 31 at her home in Tucson, Arizona, by her daughter Annie and son-in-law.
It is believed that this is the night when the suspected abduction took place.
Surveillance footage would show a masked person arriving at the property that night, with the case gaining attention around the world ever since, as Nancy remains missing.
Savannah stepped back from her post on NBC for months to support her family, as the likes of the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff's Department continue to investigate Nancy's disappearance.
Now, an experienced forensic scientist has claimed to have an idea of what happened to Nancy Guthrie.
Speaking to Fox News Digital on Saturday (May 29), Barbara Butcher, an experienced forensic scientist, said it was "flabbergasting" that someone would just take the elderly woman.
She speculated: “Someone in the area… had found out that Mrs Guthrie was the mother of Savannah Guthrie and said, 'Oh, she must be rich.'"
While ransom notes asking for cryptocurrency payments were sent to media outlets after Nancy vanished, Butcher has questioned whether the demands were real.
She explained: “My second thought was that after time, when there was no valid ransom demand or any information forthcoming that it’s probably likely that Mrs. Guthrie died of shock, fright, heart disease, whatever it was, very soon after being taken from her home.”
The former death investigator for New York City’s chief medical examiner further said at CrimeCon in Las Vegas: “And that’s just horrifying to me… and so now this kidnapper had nothing and probably, unfortunately, took her body into the desert and buried her there.”
A criminal defense attorney also shared the alleged kidnapper's notes in an interview with Hello!.
RJ Dreiling, a former prosecutor, suggested that these notes could have been a tactic to “throw off investigators.”
He added: “This is someone intelligent enough to completely hide their tracks, including DNA, fingerprints, and electronic data, but also deranged enough to kidnap this woman out of her home and hold her hostage.”
While it is believed that Nancy was taken from her Catalina Foothills, AZ, home in the early hours of the morning, no arrests have been made.
Back in May, the sheriff’s department released a statement, reiterating its commitment to the missing person case.
A spokesperson stated: “The Pima County Sheriff's Department remains fully committed to the investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance.
“This is an active and ongoing investigation, and we continue to work closely with our partners at the FBI,” noting that forensic efforts are a key focus.
“DNA and video analysis are underway, supported by laboratories across the country.
"Advances in technology are aiding investigative efforts, and tips continue to be received and reviewed.”
They asked for those with information to come forward, asking that they contact 88-CRIME or the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Speaking to KOLD on Monday (June 1), Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos was asked if he believes the case is cold, to which he said: “No, absolutely not.
“There’s way too much work that is ongoing with some of the physical evidence we have and we’re not going to give up on it just because it’s been 100 days,
“We continue to work with our labs – whether it’s on the digital end or the biological end, DNA – and we continue to do that.
“We continue to work with the FBI... and several labs across the country to get some resolution on this case.”
He stated that they are "committed" to resolving the mystery and to finding Nancy.
