Nancy Grace Defends Guthrie Family Amid Disappearance Investigation
Nancy Grace's Insights on Nancy Guthrie's Case
During the Variety True Crime Summit at South by Southwest in Austin, commentator and journalist Nancy Grace expressed her belief that the Guthrie family is not involved in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. Grace's opinion stems from her impressions of Savannah Guthrie, Nancy's daughter. "I do not believe the Guthrie family is responsible for her disappearance. Savannah is genuine and intelligent, not a fabricated TV persona," Grace stated. She recalled Savannah's emotional appearance at a memorial, emphasizing that it would be implausible for her to act that way if she suspected her family member's involvement.
Grace acknowledged that investigators typically scrutinize those closest to the victim first, as statistics often support this approach. However, she firmly believes that this case is different.
Nancy Guthrie, aged 84, has been missing for almost six weeks, last seen at her Tucson home on January 31. She was reported missing the next day, and investigators suspect she may have been abducted after blood was discovered on her porch. Authorities are worried about her health, as she requires daily medication. Recently, family members were cleared as suspects in the case.
Last month, the FBI released doorbell camera footage showing a man on Guthrie's porch the night she vanished. The suspect was dressed in a ski mask and gloves, and appeared to carry a handgun holster. He was described as approximately 5'9" to 5'10" tall, with an average build, and was seen with a 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack. His identity remains unknown.
Some media outlets have reported receiving ransom notes demanding cryptocurrency for Guthrie's return, but investigators have not verified their authenticity. Initial suspicions fell on family members, particularly Annie Guthrie and her husband, Tommaso Cioni, who were reportedly the last to see Nancy. Authorities had seized Annie's vehicle early in the investigation but later cleared the family of suspicion.
As the search for Nancy continues, Savannah Guthrie has made a public plea for assistance, stating, "We feel the love and prayers from our neighbors, from the Tucson community and from around the country. ... Please don't stop praying and hoping with us. Bring her home," in an Instagram message last week.
Chris Nanos, an investigator, mentioned that they believe the suspect may have had a specific motive, although they cannot dismiss the possibility of a broader threat. "We believe we know why he did this, and we believe that it was targeted. But we can't—we're not 100 percent sure of that, so it would be silly to tell people: 'Yeah, don't worry about it. You're not his target,'" Nanos told NBC News.