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By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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Jennifer Coffindaffer, a retired FBI special agent, has explained a “big clue” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos gave about the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.
In an interview with NBC News on Thursday, Nanos said investigators believe they know the motive for the crime. Nanos reportedly withheld the details of investigators’ theory, citing the integrity of the investigation.
“I think it’s come out from day one," the sheriff said. "I think from day one, we had strong beliefs about what happened and those beliefs haven’t diminished.”
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Coffindaffer told Newsweek she believes Nanos’ comments reveal investigators believe Guthrie was kidnapped for ransom.
Newsweek has contacted the Pima County Sheriff's Department for comment via email.
The Context
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing for almost six weeks. She was last seen at her home on January 31 in Tucson, Arizona, and was reported missing the following day. Authorities believe she was kidnapped and said drops of her blood were found on the front porch.
Since the first days of her disappearance, authorities have expressed concern about her health because she needs vital daily medication.
On February 10, the FBI released video from a doorbell camera showing a man wearing a ski mask, a jacket, long pants, gloves and a handgun holster on Nancy Guthrie's porch on the night she disappeared. Authorities have not publicly identified the person, whom they called a suspect, but the FBI described the person as a male about 5-foot-9 or 5-foot-10 with an average build and said he was carrying a 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.
Multiple news outlets reported receiving purported ransom notes last month, including at least one demanding payment in cryptocurrency for the 84-year-old's release, but authorities have not said whether the notes were authentic.
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What To Know
“The big clue he gave, I thought, was about motive," Coffindaffer told Newsweek about Nanos' interview. "He starts off saying, 'yes, we have what we believe to be the motive,' which is huge, because whenever you find motive, you find suspect.”
She noted that when the sheriff was asked about the possible motive, he said it was something investigators "looked at from the beginning.”
“That's a roadmap to me…What were they looking at at the beginning? Kidnapping for ransom, kidnapping for ransom, that was the entirety of the theme," Coffindaffer said. “That's why they had the family go on television, making social media posts, making this plea, that's why they orchestrated all of that.”
In the days after Nancy Guthrie was reported missing, Savannah sat with her siblings, Annie and Camron, in a video posted on Instagram as she made a heart-wrenching plea for her mother’s kidnapper to send “proof of life.” In another video, she said: "We will pay."
No proof that Nancy Guthrie is alive was received and deadlines for the purported ransom notes have long passed.
Coffindaffer said she believes that may be because Nancy Guthrie had already died at that point.
“I think that's because it did go so wrong. They could not prove the life because she passed,” she said.
What People Are Saying
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told NBC News: "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.'"
He added: "Don't think for a minute that because it happened to the Guthrie family, you're safe. No, keep your wits about you."
Savannah Guthrie said on Instagram last week: "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."
What Happens Next
Anyone with information is urged to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), 520-351-4900 or 88-CRIME or visit tips.fbi.gov.
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