A former New York Police Department hostage negotiator has come forward with a chilling theory about what may have happened to Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother, and it paints a disturbing picture.
Wallace Zeins, who spent years negotiating high-stakes abductions for the NYPD, believes that 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie was likely taken by more than one person from her Tucson, Arizona home late Sunday night.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, February 3, Zeins said Nancy’s physical condition alone makes a solo abduction highly unlikely.
“She is 150 pounds, 5 feet 5, waking up in the middle of the night, not in the best health, cannot walk or run, so I would think there is more than one person involved in this particular crime,” Zeins told CNN.
What investigators know so far
Nancy was last seen Saturday evening, January 31, when she had dinner with Savannah’s sister, Annie. Annie dropped her off at home around 9:30 p.m.
By Sunday morning, concern began to grow. Nancy failed to attend church, something family members say was completely out of character. By noon, she was officially reported missing.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has publicly ruled out the idea that Nancy wandered away on her own, stressing that she does not suffer from dementia or cognitive impairment.
”She is as sharp as a tack. Her family wants everybody to know, this is not somebody that just wandered off,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said.
When deputies searched her home, they discovered her Apple Watch left behind.
A law enforcement source later revealed that Nancy’s pacemaker stopped syncing with the device around 2:00 a.m. Sunday, a detail that has deeply unsettled investigators. There are also videos showing blood traces outside Nancy’s door, although police have not confirmed whether they belong to the 84-year-old woman.
A plea from law enforcement
As concern escalated, Sheriff Nanos issued a direct and emotional plea to whoever may be responsible.
“Just call us. Let her go. Just call us,” he said on Monday, February 2.
“We do not need another bad, tragic ending.”
Investigators are now trying to piece together critical unanswered questions — including what Nancy was wearing, whether she was taken in a vehicle, and why a security camera from the front of her home appears to be missing.
Fingerprints and DNA evidence collected from the house have been sent to labs for testing.
Ransom notes raise even more alarms
Adding to the mystery, multiple media outlets — including TMZ, CNN Tucson affiliate KOLD, and KGUN — reported receiving alleged ransom notes demanding millions of dollars in Bitcoin in exchange for Nancy’s safe return.
The notes reportedly referenced specific details from inside Nancy’s home, though Sheriff Nanos has declined to confirm whether that information matches evidence found at the scene. He did confirm that the notes were shared with Savannah.
Zeins believes the ransom demands themselves could ultimately help investigators. He noted that a request for Bitcoin suggests the perpetrators are digitally savvy and possibly active on social media.
If the notes were handwritten, they could yield DNA. If typed, Zeins said, they may leave an electronic trail — an area where federal authorities excel.
CNN correspondent Josh Campbell has warned that the “high-profile” nature of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance could prompt the public to send police misleading or even “sinister” tips.
“In these high-profile situations, authorities are often flooded with tips — some turn out to be credible, some not so credible and some downright sinister,” Campbell told TV host Jake Tapper on Wednesday.
Former FBI criminal profiler Candice DeLong added context about kidnappings of the elderly, noting that the “vast majority” of victims actually know their abductor.
“There is one thing I’d like to add about kidnapping of elderly people, especially people over 80. In the vast majority of cases, the offender is known to the victim,” DeLong told Tapper on Wednesday.
Search intensifies near the home
Police helicopters have been seen combing the desert near Nancy’s residence as part of what Zeins described as a “grid search.” The method involves systematically searching every section of terrain to ensure nothing is overlooked.
Investigators may be trying to determine whether Nancy was moved through nearby fields or taken directly from the area, Zeins explained.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday night that he had spoken with Savannah and that he is “deploying all resources to get her mother home safely.”
Savannah Guthrie’s new plea
As the search continues, Savannah Guthrie has stepped back from her professional commitments, including her planned role hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Italy.
NBC Sports confirmed she would no longer participate, saying she is focusing on being with her family during the crisis.
Savannah Guthrie issued an emotional plea Wednesday night for the safe return of her mother, Nancy, telling whoever may be holding the 84-year-old that her family is “ready to talk.”
In a video shared on Instagram alongside her siblings, Savannah said the family was aware of reports about a possible ransom letter and wanted to open a direct line of communication.
“At the same time, we live in a world where voices and images can be easily manipulated,” Savannah said. “We need to know, without a doubt, that she is alive and that you have her.”
As one stunned observer summed it up online:
“Targeting an elderly person like this is really sick.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900. The FBI is offering $2,500 for tips that lead to helpful information.
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