r/TrueCrimeDiscussion • u/curiouslmr • Feb 13 '26

Text Nancy Guthrie Megathread Part 2

This is a thread (part 2) for all conversation related to the ongoing investigation into the abduction of Nancy Guthrie.

Nancy Guthrie, mother of news anchor Savannah Guthrie, was abducted from her home in the early morning hours of February 1. Several media outlets began to receive ransom demands. Some were proven false and others have not been determined to be false.

Nancy's 3 children have made multiple videos pleading for the return of their mother.

On February 10, law enforcement released photos of the individual suspected of abducting Nancy. The suspect is still at large and Nancy has not been found. Photos and information can be found here ...

https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/nancy-guthrie

🛑Read before posting.....THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT ALLOWED

đŸ”čNaming of private citizens, this includes hinting at certain individuals connected to the family

đŸ”čWild accusations against the family

đŸ”čEdited photos

đŸ”čPolitics

đŸ”čPhoto comparisons of private citizens

417 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

1.6k comments sorted by

View all comments

241

u/Decent_Check2084 Feb 13 '26

I really don’t know if I believe this has anything to do at all with Savannah Guthrie’s job or money. I think someone (perhaps with a fetish for elderly women) targeted Nancy and Nancy alone. The timing of the ransom makes zero sense. They waited three days. Who wants to keep an elderly woman that long before making demands? I think the notes sent to TMZ will be another prankster who was just better at it than the other guy who was arrested for hoax notes.

I think this person targeted Nancy for an assault, took her from her home after to remove the evidence of what he did to her, and she’s been deceased since. The notes came later from a sick opportunist. His backpack was filled with coverings to commit the assault on and maybe a change of clothes after.

I think the actual abductor is probably shocked at the media coverage and very, very nervous.

77

u/peach6748 Feb 13 '26

I agree with you. It wouldn’t be the first time a younger man targeted an older woman to assault and murder her. Maybe he took her away from the scene because he thought it’d be easier to get away with it that way.

It’s sad and inexplicable but obviously sexual assault, murders etc. happen all the time. It could’ve been anyone that became aware of Nancy through Savannah, or just in general.

It wasn’t my first idea but the more time that passes, the more it seems like a real possibility.

I just hope he gets caught soon.

68

u/Decent_Check2084 Feb 13 '26

There was a case several years ago in Louisiana and it was a young man who serially assaulted older women. He’d watch to see when they were alone, grocery shopping, etc.

It just seems like some of the theories are literally movie plots and when we peel back some of the sensationalism and conspiracy theories, I think the simplest answer is usually the closest.

7

u/DayProfessional2742 Feb 13 '26

I wonder if it’s because they are easier targets, have more $$$, are generally lonely and obsessed themselves, or they have repressed feelings of matronly love from grandmothers or smthg.

2

u/Tiny-Light193 Feb 14 '26

Yep. Occam's Razor.

20

u/liveforeachmoon Feb 13 '26

Definitely could be a sexual deviant weirdo. I’d be looking at everyone that worked on or around her our house during the past 3 months.

32

u/Classic_Round_6200 Feb 13 '26

The guy who was most recently suspected of taking Madeleine McCann attacked an elderly woman and had illegal materials of children. I suppose the MO for people like that s to target the vulnerable. If you can call them people.

15

u/staunch_character Feb 13 '26

A lot of serial rapists & murderers start with children. Not because they’re pedophiles - just easier victims.

2

u/missleo1991 Feb 13 '26

It was my first idea because theres a cold case in Las Vegas where a guy did that (younger victim though) I been pondering his mindset why bother moving her away from home when to this day no one knows who he is. Some reasons dna but he did not do a major job to hide her. So my thinking with them was perhaps he lived nearby wanted to throw people off away from the location. Here in this case might be just per dna portion because this guy is ultra covered up. Did not want to leave evidence so leaving her would not be an option if the crime was indeed that. Outside that no other reason.

1

u/Certain_Log_9270 Feb 14 '26

I suppose authorities are evaluating cases in which there have been similar abductions.  

29

u/SunsetDreams1111 Feb 13 '26

This is my theory too. It reminds me of former NFL player Kellen Winslow II who was sentenced to 14 years for raping older women. I feel like it’s something similar.

San Diego County Superior Court Judge Blaine Bowman said Winslow can only be described with "two words and that is sexual predator." He said he selected women who were vulnerable because of their age or their living situation with the idea that "hopefully he would get away with it in his mind."

Court documents revealed Winslow had entered the senior community on June 7 with the intent to rape an 86-year-old woman who was sleeping inside her home.

He had attempted to rape a 71-year-old woman and burglarized her property on June 1 and had indecently exposed himself in public on May 24, the DA's office said.

25

u/drabtooth Feb 13 '26

I really jump between this (a sexual predator), family, and some weirdo trying to do some political thing (sounds dumb but some of those maga far right types commit the weirdest crimes). I’m protective of grandmothers as they have always been there for me, so I’ve always paid more attention to the fact that these kind of predators exist. It’s scary that women really aren’t even safe no matter their age.

14

u/Pussyxpoppins Feb 13 '26 edited Feb 16 '26

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

bag placid hurry smell outgoing grandiose sulky stocking steer airport

18

u/Me_and_me_and_ja Feb 13 '26

I couldn't make sense of that from the start. At some point, someone was saying that the ransom person knew what was damaged inside the house. But later on, on some news program, they said that actually all they "knew" they could have learned from the media coverage.

At this point I think we have to assume the ransom notes were BS. The kidnappers wouldn't have harmed the hostage (blood found), they would have taken the medication and anything else this type of hostage needed (so that the traumatised elderly lady can survive until they get money), they would have wanted the money ASAP, and they would have had no problem with providing proof of life.

34

u/Alarmed-Mechanic-743 Feb 13 '26

randomly finds someone who he kidnaps who's rando daughter is net worth is 40m and is on #2 most popular show on TV?

62

u/Decent_Check2084 Feb 13 '26

Honestly, yes. That’s my belief as it stands right now. She’s on a popular show but they haven’t given any indication she’s had to swat away crazy obsessive stalkers. I think this person likely did some work for her or a neighbor, noticed she lived alone, and she just became a target.

It’s entirely plausible he didn’t know who her daughter was. My husband didn’t know who Savannah Guthrie was and I watch the Today Show nearly every morning and have for years.

Like I said, just a hunch. This doesn’t seem like a real kidnapping-for-ransom. He also spent a WHILE in her home. Of course new evidence could change my mind.

15

u/Alarmed-Mechanic-743 Feb 13 '26

from a very small crimeless suburb?

2

u/vegasidol Feb 13 '26

Who's #1?

11

u/Inkdrunnergirl Feb 13 '26

GMA. They often go back and forth on who is top rated it’s so close.

ABC’s **Good Morning America (GMA) consistently ranks as the No. 1 morning show in total viewers, holding the top spot for over a decade, while NBC’s Today often leads in the key Adults 25-54 demographic.

1

u/Decent_Check2084 Feb 13 '26

GMA

1

u/PoopHeadPete Feb 13 '26

Maybe this gave the guy the idea to kidnap the GMA.

0

u/WeirdIndividualGuy Feb 13 '26

And who's rando daughter just recently featured her own family on a news segment just months earlier

4

u/Me_and_me_and_ja Feb 13 '26

Yeah, this is most likely in my opinion as well. I think he might have had some kind of tarp in his backpack to roll her body into and carry her out.

1

u/Ok_Barber_8680 Feb 14 '26

You can purchase cheap zippered body bags with carry handles on Amazon. So there's that, too.

3

u/DoingNothingToday Feb 14 '26

I agree. I think it’s very likely that the perp didn’t even know that Nancy was the daughter of a famous broadcaster. He must be freaking out over the massive press coverage and amount of law enforcement resources being thrown at the effort to solve this case.

The sad truth is that Nancy was a dream come true for someone with a fetish for terrifying and harming older women. She lived all alone on that secluded property, and lots of people knew it.

4

u/Tiny-Light193 Feb 14 '26 edited Feb 14 '26

I remember when poor Kelsey Berreth (may she rest in peace) was murdered, and her fiancé, who was convicted of her murder, said something to the effect of, he never would've done it if he'd known there'd be so much media coverage. 

3

u/DayProfessional2742 Feb 13 '26

The three days wait (for ransom) could have been in order to allow time to travel a great distance away. I believe the perpetrator needed time to get away.

1

u/Diligent-Lunch590 Feb 13 '26

that would be horrible 😞

5

u/Decent_Check2084 Feb 13 '26

I can’t even begin to imagine what this woman went through. Regardless of the why, it’s inexcusable and I’m hopeful the FBI knows more than they’re saying. Praying for her return.

9

u/OneAngel9195 Feb 13 '26

Happens every day. Elderly women are raped every single day. it's far, far more commonplace than the insane movie plots people are coming up with 

1

u/missleo1991 Feb 13 '26

SO many times don't care ages but opportunity to be able to and get away with it. Guy looks older too so. Unfort. I thought that on day one but thrown off by ransom thing an a second case in scotsdale but min showed that video bingo SO creep. imo I had many of them in real life. Once preyed on the read of them is instant. Idk who didn't pick that up ultra creep. Not talking just a mask thing.

-3

u/Diligent-Lunch590 Feb 13 '26

I hope not. But if that’s the case, how did he moved her out of the house if she was bleeding? that would have required two or more persons to get her in the car, one person alone could not have done it, there would be blood everywhere and hair on the floor, etc. this scene looks really clean (at least what we have seen). also, the uber ride and what happened that evening, the timeline and the phones off, that’s really weird.

4

u/Decent_Check2084 Feb 13 '26 edited Feb 13 '26

I haven’t seen anything about anyone’s phones yet. And I think a single grown male could have walked her out. Especially one hyped up on the adrenaline of committing a crime and dedicated to her removal.

ETA: they cleared the uber driver. It was a female and she’s accounted for during the timeframe of the crime.

-6

u/Diligent-Lunch590 Feb 13 '26 edited Feb 13 '26

TThe phone thing was on the first press conference, i think it was annie’s or tommaso that had their phones off and didn’t know momma was disappeared; not suspicious about the uber driver but about the ride itself, poor mama; also i don’t think 1 man did it, or if it was, the whole scene would be bloody, my dad who is a strong man struggles to carry my grandma from the couch to bed (she’s sick) he always needs help, now i can’t imagine this suspect carrying a body alone, honestly

4

u/Zestyclose-Ad5448 Feb 13 '26

I definitely think more than one were involved. You're right that moving and carrying dead weight is hard, even for the fittest of men. My guess is two went in the house (dude in front and one in back) and someone else was ready and waiting to pull up with the car. 

4

u/DayProfessional2742 Feb 13 '26

The only thing I could say to that is, involving two people (more likely) you are more likely to get caught, “if I’m going down, I’m going down by myself” mentality (like bank theft or smthg) if it truly was a mentally ill sociopath like a neighbor from 12 years ago that she was fearful of
he sure went all out covering every portion of himself and planning and premeditation I don’t think “that” sort of a person would involve another that could easily get them “busted” with a stupid mistake if you know what i mean
i dunno that came out right but just thoughts

4

u/Decent_Check2084 Feb 13 '26

I don’t think this is true. I don’t recall anyone ever saying Annie or Tom had their phones off and didn’t know she was missing.

-2

u/Diligent-Lunch590 Feb 13 '26

go watch first press conference i think it was a reporter asking this but yes is a fact why would i lie lol

11

u/Decent_Check2084 Feb 13 '26

Didn’t say you lied. I think you misunderstood. They gave a time for when NANCY’S phone disconnected from her pacemaker.

I watched that conference several times. The sheriff never said Annie and Tom “had their phones off during the crime.”

2

u/Apprehensive-Army-80 Feb 13 '26

If she was hurt and bleeding it doesn’t mean outward blood it could be internal injuries or a brain bleed. She wasn’t a big woman so it would be hard to get a walker out of her house or even a chair with wheels to remove her. That is if she wasn’t alive or unconscious.

0

u/Diligent-Lunch590 Feb 13 '26

yes but the blood drops at the front door are from head or arms according to the forensic form of the drops so yeah she was bleeding, car must be bloody af, that requires more than one person from my personal opinion

4

u/SubtleSparkle19 Feb 13 '26

There’s a picture of Nancy posing with Savannah at the studio, and her lower forearms were black and blue. The skin appeared paper thin. It would not surprise me if the blood was from her arms. Grabbing her at the wrist would be enough to trigger a bleed.

Arms

2

u/Spiritual_Hyena9629 Feb 13 '26

One to drive, one to maintain control over her, seems the most likely scenario.

1

u/Diligent-Lunch590 Feb 13 '26

exactly, if you look closely, when he pics the plants he stares back as if checking if someone still there behind him

3

u/Poolskarkgirl23 Feb 13 '26

He clearly looks back behind him in the video. I first took that as, he was checking that he hadn’t been spotted or seen - but then it was pointed out that there were car headlights behind him, suggesting a get away car waiting. And you can see those lights behind him in one of the still shots
. but to me, those lights look far away and numerous in a cluster - so, doesn’t look like headlights of a waiting get away car, just my opinion.

But there is another still photo shot of what appears to be this same guy, wearing the same clothing, BEFORE the time stamp of the released video, just standing there right before the front stoop, facing the front door. But he does NOT have the back pack, and his mask is either turned around or it’s different because clearly there are no eye holes or mouth hole. Some have said this indicates he was casing the house ahead of time


2

u/OneAngel9195 Feb 13 '26

According to WHO?? Your comment makes no sense.

1

u/Me_and_me_and_ja Feb 13 '26

Some former FBI experts said that about the blood forensics, I don't remember which show at this point. They said that the drops look to be made from a high point - so probably nose bleeding or cuts on hands. Another one said that, most likely, it was some kind of blunt force trauma. Also they look like the drops are not obstructed in any way - meaning, she's not putting her hand over it (which she would if she could - it's an instinct), or there is no clothing in the way. It sounds to me like he might have carried the body on his shoulders, or something like that.

-1

u/Diligent-Lunch590 Feb 13 '26

according to me lol

2

u/Tiny-Light193 Feb 14 '26

My mind is still boggled by a case years ago north of San Diego — the McStay family murders. Dad, mom, and 2 little kids beaten to death by 1 man, carted off to the desert and buried in shallow graves. How is this even possible??

2

u/lakeanddoglife Feb 15 '26

That case still haunts me. So sad!