Since the mysterious disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, countless rumors and theories have circulated online.
One of them suggested that Savannah’s brother-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, could be the prime suspect.
Authorities, however, are keeping all possibilities open, with Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos declining to definitively rule out the son-in-law, who was the last person to see Nancy Guthrie.
During a press briefing on February 5th, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos revealed that DNA testing confirmed the blood drops found outside Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson, Arizona, home belonged to her.
While Nanos admitted he is “certainly fearful” that the 84-year-old could already be dead, he emphasized that law enforcement is “operating from a position that until we know, she’s out there [and] she’s alive.”
Nancy Guthrie, mother of TODAY show co-anchor Savannah, has been missing since Saturday, January 31.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos also addressed a number of rumors swirling in the media, including claims of forced entry at Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home and reports of a smashed camera on the ground.
“Someone mentioned there was forced entry. I have no clue where that came from,” Nanos said, adding that he would neither confirm nor deny whether forced entry occurred. He did note that Nancy’s Ring doorbell camera was disconnected at 1:47 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 1, but didn’t confirm if it had been destroyed.
During the press conference, noth Nanos and FBI Assistant Special Agent Jon Edwards stressed that no suspect or person of interest has been identified.
This came after former NewsNation host Ashleigh Banfield suggested that Nancy’s son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, might be a suspect. Cioni had dropped Nancy off at her Tucson home just after 9:45 p.m. on Saturday after spending the evening having dinner and playing games with her and his wife, Nancy’s daughter Annie.
Nanos called such reports “really kind of reckless to report that someone is a suspect when they could very well be a victim.”
At the same time, Sheriff Nanos wouldn’t rule out Savannah Guthrie’s brother-in-law— or anyone else — as a possible suspect.
“We’re actively looking at everybody we come across in this case. We would be irresponsible if we didn’t talk to everybody,” Nanos told reporters when asked about Tommaso Cioni.
Nanos explained further: “We’re actively looking at everybody we come across in this case. We would be irresponsible if we didn’t talk to everybody. The Uber driver, the gardener, the pool person. It’s so cliché, but everybody’s still a suspect in our eyes. … Does that mean we have a prime suspect? No.”
The Uber driver in question gave Nancy a ride to her daughter Annie’s home on the evening of Saturday, Jan. 31. Law enforcement has since located and interviewed the driver. Later that night, a family member drove Nancy back home, which is the last confirmed sighting of her before she was reported missing on Sunday, Feb. 1.
Catching Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapper could prove extremely difficult.
An expert warns that her abductor may never be found, and it all comes down to one troubling factor. Art Del Cueto, a longtime U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer who lives just minutes from Guthrie’s home, told the Daily Mail that the surrounding terrain presents a major obstacle for investigators.
He added that Tucson’s proximity to Mexico could allow a suspect to disappear quickly, possibly before authorities even have a clear picture of what happened.
“If somebody gets spooked, they can make it into Mexico in under an hour and a half, that’s why authorities may not be sharing everything they know,” Del Cueto said.
On Thursday, federal authorities announced the arrest of Los Angeles man Derrick Callella in connection with a fake ransom demand linked to the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie.
Callella allegedly sent texts to Nancy’s daughter and son-in-law demanding Bitcoin, though the FBI says he has no confirmed connection to the case.
FBI Phoenix Special Agent Heith Janke called him a “total imposter” and warned: “To those impostors who are trying to take advantage and profit from this situation, we will investigate and ensure you are held accountable for your actions.”
The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to Nancy’s safe return or the arrest of anyone involved.
