Nancy Guthrie Update: Her Disappearance Might Not Be Kidnapping, per Ex-FBI Official

The search for Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today host Savannah Guthrie, stretched over the one week mark over the weekend after the 84-year-old was abducted from her home in Tucson, AZ sometime between the night of Saturday, Feb. 2 and morning of Sunday, Feb. 3.

The Guthrie family has received two alleged ransom notes, one demanding $1 million and another, more recent, note demanding $6 million. Guthrie and her siblings, Camron and Annie, posted a video to social media over the weekend pleading with the suspected kidnapper.

“We received your message, and we understand,” Guthrie said in the video. “We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay,” she added.

Former FBI Official Questions Kidnapping

As the search continues, former FBI assistant director Chris Swecker told Fox News’ “The Big Weekend Show” that he's "skeptical" of the kidnapping.

“Is this really a kidnapping? Does somebody really have her, and is she really alive?” he asked. His suspicions arose due to the alleged $5 million increase in ransom demands.

"Remember now, it was 1 million not too long ago. All of a sudden, it’s 6 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."

The lack of evidence regarding Guthrie's current state leads Swecker to believe "something other than a kidnapping" might have taken place.

“If this was a kidnapping, it would be a very simple matter to authenticate and provide proof of life,” Swecker said, noting that no evidence had been “credibly authenticated at this point.”

Pima County Sheriff's Department Has No Suspects

In a message posted to social media on Sunday, Feb. 8, the Pima County Sheriff's Department confirmed it has not identified a suspect, more than a week after Guthrie's disappearance.

"The Nancy Guthrie investigation is ongoing. Follow-up continues at multiple locations. No suspects, persons of interest, or vehicles have been identified. No scheduled press briefings. If any significant developments occur in the case, a press conference will be called," the message read.

The latest alleged ransom note gives a deadline of Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. Arizona time - or 7 p.m. ET.

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