Former FBI Official Casts Doubt On Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Theory

A former senior FBI official is raising questions about whether the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie is truly a kidnapping, despite investigators continuing to treat the high-profile case as a criminal abduction. Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker voiced skepticism during an appearance on The Big Weekend Show, responding to a recent emotional video appeal released by Savannah Guthrie.

“I’m very skeptical of this,” Swecker said. “Is this really a kidnapping? Does somebody really have her, and is she really alive?”

Swecker focused heavily on what he described as a glaring absence of credible proof of life, something he argued would normally be straightforward in a legitimate kidnapping case. “If this was a kidnapping, it would be a very simple matter to authenticate and provide proof of life,” he said, adding that such proof has not been “credibly authenticated at this point.”

He also questioned the legitimacy of the reported ransom demands, particularly the sudden escalation in the amount allegedly sought by the individuals behind the messages. “Remember now, it was one million not too long ago. All of a sudden, it’s six million,” Swecker said. “I really think there’s a third party here that’s just playing with them, opportunists who think they can exploit this situation.”

“You have to allow for the possibility that this was something more or something other than a kidnapping,” he said, while acknowledging the family’s understandable hope and desperation as the case enters its second week.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, the mother of the longtime Today co-anchor, disappeared from her home in the Catalina Foothills area near Tucson, Arizona, on January 31, 2026. She was reported missing the following day after failing to attend church and could not be reached by family members.

Authorities have said evidence found at the residence prompted them to treat the home as a crime scene rather than a routine missing-person case. Investigators have cited blood discovered on the porch, along with the apparent disabling of security cameras and Guthrie’s pacemaker monitoring system, as factors that led them to believe she may have been taken against her will.

The case has since drawn national attention, with multiple alleged ransom messages demanding cryptocurrency reportedly sent to media outlets. Law enforcement has not confirmed the authenticity of the messages and has warned the public against speculation while investigators work to determine whether the communications are legitimate or part of a hoax.

In recent days, law enforcement activity at the property has intensified. Investigators were seen examining a septic tank and surrounding areas, though officials declined to explain what prompted the search or whether anything of evidentiary value was recovered. No suspects or persons of interest have been publicly identified.

President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One late Friday that the FBI may be nearing “definitive” answers in the case. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information related to Guthrie’s disappearance and continues to vet the alleged ransom notes.

Savannah Guthrie posted a new video to Instagram over the weekend, saying her family had received another message and pleading for the safe return of her mother. Authorities say the investigation remains active, with multiple leads under review as the search continues and time remains a critical factor given Guthrie’s age and medical needs.