Ashley Banfield is holding onto her assertion that Savannah Guthrie’s brother-in-law could be a main suspect in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. She described the sheriff’s dismissal of this claim as “reckless,” even after Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos stated that there are no suspects in the case.
On Thursday, Banfield, speaking to a newsletter, referred to an unnamed law enforcement source to back her podcast claims, despite the sheriff’s public denials.
“No one is listed as a suspect in this case,” Nanos emphasized at a press briefing, reiterating that investigators do not have any persons of interest.
Though he did not rule anyone out—a common practice in investigations—he cautioned that naming suspects without solid evidence could jeopardize the case and harm innocent individuals.
“Nobody’s been eliminated as a suspect, but we can’t just say, ‘This is our man or woman.’ We really don’t know,” he stated. “It’s dangerous to imply that someone is a suspect, as that heightens their risk of becoming a victim.”
Banfield’s producer told a media outlet that the sheriff has consistently asserted there’s no evidence connecting his brother-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, to the alleged kidnapping.
Banfield’s points were briefly highlighted in a digital piece that underwent significant edits following inquiries.
Having previously anchored at NewsNation, Banfield has made appearances on various platforms, including “The Megyn Kelly Show” and “Inside Edition.”
Savannah Guthrie, co-host of “Today,” has mostly refrained from engaging in the public discussion around media coverage of this case.
Authorities have not classified Tommaso Cioni as a suspect or a person of interest either.
Law enforcement has stated that investigative actions Banfield mentioned, like towing the family car, are standard procedures and do not imply any charges are forthcoming.
The FBI has provided a $50,000 reward as the search for Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother, Nancy, proceeds.
As of Friday, the search for Nancy Guthrie marked its sixth day, and authorities reiterated that there are currently no suspects or persons of interest identified.
The FBI, together with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, is actively involved in the investigation, contributing personnel, technical resources, and a nationwide public relations effort.
Nanos confirmed that blood identified on the porch was Nancy Guthrie’s, noted that the doorbell camera had been taken down, and shared that investigators believe she was abducted from her home at around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday.
According to police, an alleged ransom note has demanded millions in Bitcoin with two deadlines attached.
Guthrie’s son, Camron, has released a heartfelt video appealing to anyone who might have information about his mother, who has mobility challenges and requires medication daily.
