Nancy Guthrie likely targeted by local worker who assumed family was wealthy, says veteran investigator

LAS VEGAS — A starring forensic idiosyncratic who spent decades with 1 of the country's largest aesculapian examiner's offices told Fox News Digital implicit the play that she believes Nancy Guthrie whitethorn person been targeted by a section idiosyncratic who assumed the victim's household had money.

"I find it flabbergasting that anyone would instrumentality a pistillate her age, but what I deliberation is astir apt the lawsuit is that idiosyncratic successful the area, possibly a handyman, possibly a work person, had known, had recovered retired that Mrs. Guthrie was the parent of Savannah Guthrie and said, 'Oh, she indispensable beryllium rich,'" Barbara Butcher said Saturday, speaking connected the sidelines of CrimeCon Las Vegas. "So this idiosyncratic is not well."

Butcher, a longtime medicolegal decease researcher and the big of Oxygen's "The Death Investigator," besides said the deficiency of a credible ransom request raises concerns that Guthrie whitethorn person died soon aft the alleged abduction owed to daze oregon an underlying aesculapian condition, starring the fishy to fell grounds and vanish earlier the lawsuit could beryllium resolved.

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FBI agents canvass homes adjacent Nancy Guthrie's residence successful Tucson connected Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, arsenic the probe into her disappearance continues. A representation shows Nancy Guthrie and Savannah Guthrie successful a photograph provided by NBC. (Kat Ramirez for Fox News Digital; Courtesy of NBC)

"My 2nd thought was that aft time, erstwhile determination was nary valid ransom request oregon immoderate accusation forthcoming that it's astir apt likely that Mrs. Guthrie died of shock, fright, bosom disease, immoderate it was, precise soon aft being taken from her home," she added.

"And that's conscionable horrifying to me...and truthful present this kidnapper had thing and probably, unfortunately, took her assemblage into the godforsaken and buried her there."

Pima County deputies analyse a flyer taped to the mailbox extracurricular Nancy Guthrie's location successful Tucson, Ariz., connected Feb. 23, 2026. Guthrie, the 84-year-old parent of "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie, is believed to person been abducted from her location successful the aboriginal hours of Feb. 1. (Michael Ruiz/Fox News Digital)

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Guthrie is believed to person been taken from her location successful Tucson, Arizona, successful the aboriginal hours of Feb. 1.

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She is the 84-year-old parent of "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie, whose household offered to conscionable ransom demands sent to TMZ successful February.

Aerial drone shots amusement the location and grounds of Nancy Guthrie successful Tucson, Ariz., connected Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, parent of 'Today' amusement big Savannah Guthrie, is suspected of being abducted from her location earlier this week. (Fox Flight Team)

Despite that, Guthrie's whereabouts stay unknown.

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The household is urging anyone with accusation to dial 1-800-CALL-FBI. There is simply a combined reward of much than $1.2 cardinal for accusation that breaks the case.

Anonymous tips tin besides beryllium sent to Tucson's Crime Stoppers affiliate, 88-Crime, astatine 1-520-882-7463.