Did Nancy Guthrie know her alleged abductor? Law enforcement has not named any suspects in Guthrie’s case, but there is much speculation publicly about whether the 84-year-old, who lived alone, was taken by someone she knew. This is something law enforcement will investigate as they determine possible suspects. However, an FBI veteran believes Guthrie likely knew the person who took her. Or at the very least, they watched her and learned her routine.
The search for Guthrie continues. She has been missing for almost two weeks and was first reported missing on February 1. Seasoned FBI veteran Barbara Daly commented on the case in an interview with Katie Couric on her “Katie Couric Media Substack Live.” “I do, I think [it could be] someone who entered her circle at some point,” Daly said.
Daly, who has 31 years of experience, continued, “It could be somebody who came in briefly or is more well-known. It’s really difficult to say. But again, to facilitate something of this magnitude and this nature would almost require somebody with some kind of knowledge of her pattern of life.”
Law enforcement recently released doorbell footage showing a suspect who could be involved in Guthrie’s case. The video footage circulated by media outlets and social media shows an individual who appears to be a man wearing a ski mask and latex gloves. They appear to be carrying a weapon at their waist and a large backpack. Guthrie’s family, including her daughter, Savannah, and her husband, Michael Feldman, has asked the public for help identifying the individual.
Daily also notes that Nancy did not have a public profile. This is despite Savannah’s career as a “Today” anchor, and the individual responsible for her alleged abduction appears to be motivated by money. They could have believed that Nancy had “access to funds,” Daly says. The ransom notes received for Nancy’s return demanded millions in Bitcoin, TMZ reports.
There was also an element of risk about this crime. “Adult kidnappings are extremely rare. In more than 10 years working kidnapping cases, I handled about three — and all involved adult males, usually motivated by money, drugs, or revenge,” Daily shared. “The other thing that really stands out, though, is that this is an 84-year-old mom, grandma, and community member with limited mobility. To go into a house and try to remove somebody [makes this] a very high-risk crime.”
