:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(810x431:812x433):format(webp)/Pima-County-Sheriff-Chris-Nanos-Nancy-Guthrie-021526-66486fa781304f1492e7fe5d92276dd4.jpg)
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos; Nancy Guthrie.Credit : Jan Sonnenmair/Getty; Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
The Arizona sheriff investigating the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie said in a new interview that authorities believe they know the motive
“We believe we know why [the kidnapper] did this and we believe that it was targeted, but we’re not 100% sure of that,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said in an NBC News interview published on Thursday, March 12
Authorities believe Nancy was taken against her will from her Tucson, Ariz., home in the early morning hours of Feb. 1
The Arizona sheriff investigating the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie said in a new interview that authorities believe they know the motive.
In the NBC News interview published on Thursday, March 12, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos shared more about the investigation as the mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie remains missing.
“We believe we know why [the kidnapper] did this and we believe that it was targeted, but we’re not 100% sure of that,” Nanos said. “So it’d be silly to tell people, ‘Don’t worry about it. You’re not his target.’ You could be. Don’t think for a minute that because it happened to the Guthrie family, you’re safe. No. Keep your wits about you.”
The sheriff declined to elaborate further on a possible motive, saying, “I think it’s come out from day one. I think day one, we had some strong beliefs about what happened and those beliefs haven’t diminished.” He added, “I’m not going to get into those theories. We have our beliefs. Everybody else has theirs.”
Nanos said investigators remain hopeful that the “mixed” DNA found at Nancy’s Tucson, Ariz., house will lead investigators to “somebody.”
The search for Nancy is nearly in its seventh week and no suspects or persons of interest have been identified.
The FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department have pointed to surveillance footage that appears to show a masked, armed person tampering with her doorbell camera on the morning of her kidnapping on Feb. 1.
That suspect has been described by the FBI’s Phoenix office as a “male, approximately 5’9” – 5’10” tall, with an average build.” In the clip, the person is wearing a “black, 25-liter ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack,” per an FBI post on X.
In a statement to PEOPLE on Thursday, Feb. 19, a spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said investigators are looking into the possibility that the person may have had an accomplice.
Related
Investigators Probing Reports of Internet Glitches the Night Nancy Guthrie Disappeared
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/Savannah-Guthrie-mother-Nancy-Guthrie-020226-02-0368cb6ddb864bf09919fd100fe546b0.jpg)
Sheriff Says Nancy Guthrie’s Abductor Could ‘Absolutely’ Strike Again: ‘Criminal Minds Are Criminal Minds’
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/nancy-guthrie-sheriff-nanos-021826-d9111bf07b344fe5867a774b1958e16a.jpg)
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and FBI were recently seen canvassing the neighborhood. Several neighbors said investigators asked whether they experienced any internet service disruptions the night Nancy went missing, NBC’s Liz Kreutz reported on the Today show on Friday, March 6.
Nanos confirmed in Thursday’s interview that investigators were looking into the possible internet glitches.
The sheriff’s department had previously requested Ring camera footage from local homes.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE‘s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
In a video posted to Instagram on Tuesday, Feb. 24, Savannah, 54, said her family has been “fearing for [Nancy] and aching for her and most of all just missing her.” She said the family is also donating $500,000 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The FBI’s reward of $100,000 remains active.
News
DISTURBING: “TOGETHER.” — THE WORD THAT WON’T LET PEOPLE SLEEP. When Janette MacAusland spoke after her arrest, one idea stood out— “Together.”
“I wanted the three of us to go to God together.” These weren’t the words of a grieving mother—they were the first words out of Janette MacAusland’s mouth after she was caught. But as the true crime community digs deeper, a terrifying question emerges: Was this a sudden “spiritual break,” or was Janette part of […]
UNSETTLING: THE WORDS THAT DON’T MATCH THE TIMELINE. “I wanted the three of us to go to God together.”
“I wanted the three of us to go to God together.” These weren’t the words of a grieving mother—they were the first words out of Janette MacAusland’s mouth after she was caught. But as the true crime community digs deeper, a terrifying question emerges: Was this a sudden “spiritual break,” or was Janette part of […]
CONTROVERSY: “WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO TO GOD TOGETHER.” — THE STATEMENT THAT SHOCKED WELLESLEY. Those were the first words attributed to Janette MacAusland after she was taken into custody…
“I wanted the three of us to go to God together.” These weren’t the words of a grieving mother—they were the first words out of Janette MacAusland’s mouth after she was caught. But as the true crime community digs deeper, a terrifying question emerges: Was this a sudden “spiritual break,” or was Janette part of […]
THREAD UNLOCKED: THE “CLANCY CONNECTION” PEOPLE CAN’T STOP TALKING ABOUT. Something strange is happening in Massachusetts.
True crime fans are losing their minds over the “glitch in the matrix” between Janette MacAusland and the infamous Lindsay Clancy case. Two high-society mothers. Two wealthy Massachusetts suburbs. The same horrific method. The same “failed” suicide attempt. Is there a “blueprint” for this tragedy being shared in hidden online mom groups, or are we […]
PATTERN ALERT: TWO CASES… TOO MANY MATCHES TO IGNORE. True crime communities are sounding the alarm.
True crime fans are losing their minds over the “glitch in the matrix” between Janette MacAusland and the infamous Lindsay Clancy case. Two high-society mothers. Two wealthy Massachusetts suburbs. The same horrific method. The same “failed” suicide attempt. Is there a “blueprint” for this tragedy being shared in hidden online mom groups, or are we […]
UNSETTLING: WHEN TWO STORIES START LOOKING THE SAME… PEOPLE GET SCARED. They were both seen as devoted mothers.
True crime fans are losing their minds over the “glitch in the matrix” between Janette MacAusland and the infamous Lindsay Clancy case. Two high-society mothers. Two wealthy Massachusetts suburbs. The same horrific method. The same “failed” suicide attempt. Is there a “blueprint” for this tragedy being shared in hidden online mom groups, or are we […]
End of content
No more pages to load
