A former top FBI official has publicly challenged the central assumption driving the investigation into Nancy Guthrie ’s disappearance, raising the possibility that the case may not be a kidnapping at all.
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie, vanished from her Tucson, Arizona home earlier this month.
While federal and local authorities have been treating the case as a possible abduction tied to a mysterious ransom note, former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker says the evidence does not add up.
- Ex-FBI official Chris Swecker says the Nancy Guthrie case may not be a real kidnapping.
- The ransom demand jumped from $1 million to $6 million, with no proof of life provided.
- Savannah Guthrie’s wording in public appeals has fueled speculation her mother may already have lost her life.
“I’m very skeptical of this,” Swecker said on Sunday (February 8).
A former FBI official believes those demanding a ransom in exchange for Nancy Guthrie’s safety are scammers
Two women smiling and embracing in a cozy room, highlighting Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance and an FBI official update.
“Is this really a kidnapping ? Does somebody really have her, and is she really alive?” he asked during his appearance on The Big Weekend Show , referring to the individuals claiming to be holding Nancy Guthrie.
The family also agreed to pay up to a reported $6 million ransom demanded by the alleged abductors.
Aerial view of a desert home surrounded by trees and shrubs related to Nancy Guthrie disappearance investigation.
According to Swecker, that figure alone raises serious questions .
“Remember now, it was 1 million not too long ago. All of a sudden, it’s 6 million,” he said. “If this was a kidnapping, it would be a very simple matter to authenticate and provide proof of life.”
He noted that no such proof has been “credibly authenticated at this point,” adding, “You have to allow for the possibility that this was something more or something other than a kidnapping.”
FBI official in a blue shirt speaking on camera, discussing new insights about Nancy Guthrie disappearance case.
Swecker went further , suggesting that the messages may not even be coming from someone with direct involvement in Nancy’s disappearance.
“I really think there’s a third party here that’s just playing with them, opportunists who think they can exploit this situation,” he said.
At least two purported ransom messages have surfaced since Nancy Guthrie vanished from her home
Screenshot of a tweet discussing changing theories about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance with mention of FBI official insights.
Three people sitting on a couch holding papers, discussing the FBI official’s update on Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
Federal investigators previously revealed new details about the ransom note during a press conference in Tucson on Thursday (February 5). Chris Nanos, the Pima County Sheriff, said the letter demanded money in cryptocurrency and warned of consequences if the demands were not met.
“The clock is ticking,” Nanos told reporters, confirming the initial deadline was set for 5 pm Mountain Time.
Tweet from PinkBeachGirl about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, highlighting new FBI official information revealed.
Two women standing in a studio discussing FBI insights on Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance and recent case updates.
The letter was sent to TMZ and a local Arizona news outlet approximately 120 hours after Nancy Guthrie was last seen.
What alarmed investigators was the level of detail it contained. According to Nanos, the writers referenced Nancy’s Apple Watch and a flood light at her $1 million Tucson home, information that would not be known to a casual observer.
“It included insider information,” Nanos said.
Phil Holloway tweeting skepticism about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, questioning kidnapping theory in a social media reply.
Aerial view of a desert home with a pool and garden, related to FBI official insights on Nancy Guthrie disappearance.
Despite those specifics, the note did not include proof of life and offered no way for investigators or the family to contact the sender. Authorities also confirmed that there has been no follow up communication, a deviation from what is typically seen in kidnapping cases.
“There would normally be contact by now,” said Heith Janke, the FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge. “In a normal kidnapping case there would be contact trying to discuss that.”
As the February 9 deadline passes, netizens believe the chances of Nancy returning alive are close to zero
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Savannah Guthrie (@savannahguthrie)
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