A retired FBI agent has explained why he believes the significant reward money being offered for information about the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has yet to be claimed.
Steve Moore told NewsNation’s Brian Entin on Brian Entin Investigates: “I think the reason is most likely the fact that the only people who have knowledge of this are culpable.”
Nancy Guthrie’s family is offering a $1 million reward for information that leads to her recovery. Meanwhile, a separate reward of more than $200,000—including $100,000 from the FBI—is being offered for information about her whereabouts or that could lead to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.
The Context
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing for almost six weeks. She was last seen at her home near Tucson, Arizona, on January 31 and was reported missing the following day. Authorities believe she was kidnapped and said drops of her blood were found on the front porch.
Since the first days of her disappearance, authorities have expressed concern about her health because she needs vital daily medication.
On February 10, the FBI released video from a doorbell camera showing a man wearing a ski mask, a jacket, long pants, gloves and a handgun holster on Nancy Guthrie’s porch on the night she disappeared.
Authorities have not publicly identified the person, whom they called a suspect, but the FBI described the person as a male about 5-foot-9 or 5-foot-10 with an average build and said he was carrying a 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.
What To Know
Moore said that he believes the perpetuators of the crime have ensured that others are not aware of it.
“Whatever they’ve done, they’ve done it in such a way, the bad guys have done it in such a way, that they’ve kept it from other people,” he said.
He said he was not surprised that an accomplice has not come forward to claim the reward.
“Yeah, they can get a deal,” he said. “But if.. the horrible thing is true that Nancy is no longer alive, there’s not going to be a good deal for you. And how are you going to spend a million dollars when you’re going to be in prison for most of the rest of your life?”
He added that rewards “usually have pretty strong limits on the fact that if you’re involved in it, if you’re culpable for it, you’re not going to get the reward.”
He also noted that some tips may have already come in “that will one day be determined to have been valuable but it wasn’t viewed as such at the time.”
His comments come after Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said in an interview with NBC News on Thursday that investigators believe Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapping was targeted, but that residents should remain wary.
He declined to provide details about investigators’ theory about the suspect’s possible motive, citing the integrity of the investigation.
“I think from Day One, we had strong beliefs about what happened and those beliefs haven’t diminished,” he said.
What People Are Saying
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told NBC News on Thursday: “We believe we know why he did this, and we believe that it was targeted. But we can’t—we’re not 100 percent sure of that, so it would be silly to tell people: ‘Yeah, don’t worry about it. You’re not his target.'”
He added: “Don’t think for a minute that because it happened to the Guthrie family, you’re safe. No, keep your wits about you.”
Savannah Guthrie said on Instagram last week: “We feel the love and prayers from our neighbors, from the Tucson community and from around the country.…Please don’t stop praying and hoping with us. bring her home.”
What Happens Next
Anyone with information is urged to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), 520-351-4900 or 88-CRIME or visit tips.fbi.gov.
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