A former FBI agent is raising questions about the circumstances of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, suggesting they don’t align with typical kidnapping scenarios. Authorities are currently looking into a second message that was sent on Friday.
“They aim to draw attention and focus on this case,” stated Daniel Brunner, a former special agent with two decades of experience, while discussing the individual who allegedly took the 84-year-old.
Guthrie, who is the mother of NBC’s “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, was last seen having dinner and playing games at a relative’s home on Saturday night.
She is thought to have returned home in Tucson, Arizona, shortly before 9:50 p.m., with her family reporting her missing soon after noon on Saturday.
Investigators conducted searches around her residence, and at least two ransom letters have been sent to local media.
Brunner cautioned that the situation is heightened because the ransom note was sent to a reporter rather than directly to Guthrie’s family.
“The more exposure this situation gets, the riskier it becomes for Ms. Guthrie,” he noted, expressing concern about what actions the kidnappers might take as interest in the case grows.
“If they feel the pressure from increased attention, they could act unpredictably,” he added, voicing his worries that this may escalate the danger.
The initial note, received on Tuesday, requested millions in Bitcoin and included a deadline of Thursday at 5 p.m. However, it was reported that Guthrie claimed he was “safe but scared” and aware of how much was needed for his release.
TMZ also pointed out that if the first deadline isn’t met, there is a mention of a second deadline occurring on Monday.
Federal and local agencies are now investigating a new letter sent Friday to CNN affiliate KOLD 13 News in Arizona.
This latest communication came from a different IP address than the first message but was said to contain details that would assure investigators it was linked to the original note, according to KOLD 13 anchor Mary Coleman.
Specifics of the new letter, however, have not been revealed.
Timeline of Savannah Guthrie’s mother’s disappearance:
The FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Office have issued a statement indicating they are “actively verifying the authenticity of the information provided in the messages.”
Additionally, President Trump commented that new clues may eventually yield “definitive” answers about Guthrie’s whereabouts. “I think we’re making significant progress,” he stated on Friday. “We have some promising leads, and I believe we could have answers soon.”
