The disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie continues to grip the nation — especially after ransom notes surfaced demanding $6 million for her return.
Now, former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker is raising serious doubts about whether this is truly a kidnapping at all.
”Is this really a kidnapping?”
The frantic search for Nancy Guthrie, the missing mother of “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie, has now entered its fourteenth day.
Investigators were spotted setting up a tent outside the crime scene early Thursday, just hours after Savannah Guthrie shared an emotional video pleading for her mother’s safe return.
Authorities have also asked neighbors to turn over any home surveillance footage that might help the case, and Arizona officials say they’ve now received nearly 20,000 tips tied to the disappearance of the 84-year-old grandmother.
Meanwhile, a disturbing new ransom note was sent to TMZ on Thursday morning.
In it, the sender complained they were “not being taken seriously”.
New ransom note
But former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker says that he is “highly skeptical” about the third letter sent to TMZ, suggesting it could be opportunists trying to exploit the situation for their own gain.
”I just don’t think anything TMZ has brought forward has panned out. I mean it’s a good vehicle for people to come in and do this, TMZ gets some viewership and it sort of ties up the investigative team trying to run this down. But I sense a scam here,” Swecker told Fox News’ The Faulkner Focus and added that he ”may be absolutely wrong,” but ”bottom line” is he’s ”very skeptical of it.”
Overall, Swecker, who served as Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the Criminal Investigative Division from 2004 to 2006, has expressed doubt about the entire idea that Nancy Guthrie was kidnapped.
A few days ago, he said:
“I’m very skeptical of this,” Swecker told Fox News. “Is this really a kidnapping? Does somebody really have her, and is she really alive?”
He pointed out that the situation doesn’t resemble a typical kidnapping-for-ransom case. Most abductors, he explained, quickly provide clear proof that their victim is alive in order to secure payment.
”If this was a kidnapping, it would be a very simple matter to authenticate and provide proof of life,” he said, noting that no verified photo or video has been produced.
Amid the ongoing twists in the investigation, Swecker warned that the Guthrie family could be facing opportunists taking advantage of their pain. “I really think there’s a third party here that’s just playing with them,” he said.
New details about potential abductor
Nancy, the mother of “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was reportedly taken from her home against her will, according to authorities. Savannah Guthrie and her family have publicly acknowledged the ransom demands and signaled they are prepared to comply in hopes of bringing Nancy home safely.
Meanwhile, authorities have doubled the reward to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest of anyone connected to Nancy’s disappearance.
The FBI Phoenix announced that a forensic review of the doorbell camera footage by its Operational Technology Division confirmed new “identifying details” about the potential abductor.
Today, the FBI is increasing its reward up to $100,000 for information leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.
New identifying details about the suspect in the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie have been… pic.twitter.com/GJcx4ra6wX
— FBI Phoenix (@FBIPhoenix) February 12, 2026
The suspect is described as a man approximately 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, with an average build. Officials also confirmed the brand of backpack the suspect was wearing: a black, 25-liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack.”
