Nancy Guthrie mise à jour: 25 semaines après l'enlèvement, Elizabeth Smart dit qu'il y a une raison d'espérer

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, has remained missing for 25 weeks following her alleged abduction from her home in the Catalina Foothills of Tucson, Arizona. Elizabeth Smart, the renowned kidnapping survivor and current bodybuilder, expressed renewed hope during a recent interview, stating that there is still a possibility Nancy is alive and could be returned safely. “There isn’t a body, so there is still reason to have hope that she is alive,” Smart told E! News, urging the public not to lose faith in finding her. Savannah Guthrie, who has been absent from her daytime talk show due to her mother’s disappearance, made an emotional appeal on air, pleading with listeners to come forward with any information. “Somebody knows something,” she said, describing the family’s ongoing anguish. The police department in Pima County confirmed that Guthrie was taken from her home in the early hours of February 1, with no signs of forced entry. The FBI has been investigating the case alongside local authorities, reviewing footage from Guthrie’s Nest doorbell camera, which captured a masked figure at her doorstep. Two purported ransom notes have surfaced, each containing alarming demands. The first, reportedly sent to local media, warned that Guthrie would be killed if payments were not made by a specific deadline. The note stated, “Your mother is aware of this, and her life is in your hands.” A second note, allegedly sent later, claimed that Guthrie had died and had been “buried with nature.” These messages have raised questions among experts, particularly regarding their consistency with standard ransom practices. Retired FBI negotiator Jason Pack analyzed the notes and suggested that the abrupt cutoff of communication was unusual for a typical kidnapping scenario. “Genuine kidnappers wanna keep the line of communication open,” Pack told Fox News Digital. While the notes contained elements of pressure, such as deadlines and threats, they also included a directive against further negotiations, which deviates from conventional ransom behavior. This has led some to question the authenticity of the notes themselves. Legal analyst Josh Ritter has also weighed in, highlighting a critical four-day delay in FBI involvement that may have compromised crucial evidence. According to Ritter, the FBI’s delayed response allowed potential suspects to evade capture, potentially losing valuable video footage and forensic data. This delay has sparked calls for greater transparency and urgency in the investigation. Meanwhile, the public continues to show support for the Guthrie family. Over $1.2 million in rewards has been offered through various channels, including the FBI, local law enforcement, and the family itself. Authorities have urged anyone with information to contact them anonymously via Crime Stoppers or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI. Volunteers have conducted searches on the property, and flyers have been distributed in the area. The case has drawn attention from both the media and true-crime enthusiasts. Briana Whitney, a former journalist with the AZ Family news outlet, discussed the ransom notes on a popular true-crime podcast, Crime Junkie. Although the exact content of the notes has not been independently verified, Whitney shared excerpts that suggest a high level of coordination between the alleged perpetrators and the family. The notes included specific details about Guthrie’s Apple Watch and the condition of a broken floodlight in her yard, information that may have only been accessible to the suspect or investigators. Despite the lack of definitive leads, Elizabeth Smart remains optimistic. Her personal experience with abduction has given her insight into the complexities of such cases. She emphasized the importance of community involvement, noting that even small details could prove vital. “If anyone knows anything or seen anything, or the smallest detail that might seem insignificant can make all the difference, just report it,” she said. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on uncovering the truth behind Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. With no official confirmation of the ransom notes’ authenticity and no physical evidence of her whereabouts, the case remains one of the most perplexing in recent memory. The Guthrie family, along with law enforcement and the public, continues to wait for answers.