Fmr FBI Agent Nantz to Newsmax: Guthrie 'Case Has Not Made Any Sense'

Retired FBI agent and national security expert John Nantz said Monday that there are unsettling unknown angles surrounding the case of the missing Nancy Guthrie, mother of TV host Savannah Guthrie.

Nantz told Newsmax's "American Agenda" that even the family message to Guthrie's presumed captor is fuzzy.

"When I first heard it, I thought it was very odd, but I'm sure ... it's being said for a very specific reason," he said.

"The FBI always takes an advisory role in kidnapping situations like this, so we don't tell the families what to do," Nantz continued.

"We simply advise the families what to do."

Savannah Guthrie told the potential kidnappers on Saturday that the family is prepared to pay for her mother's safe return.

"We received your message, and we understand," she said in a video posted on social media, flanked by her siblings.

"We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her," Savannah Guthrie continued.

"This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay."

The "Today" show host was referencing a message that was sent to the Tucson-based television station KOLD on Friday afternoon, according to Kevin Smith, a spokesperson for the FBI office in Phoenix.

Nantz said he is "sure that message was carefully crafted based on the information that the bureau and law enforcement" have.

"This case has not made any sense since the beginning," he said.

"I mean, the initial kidnapping or demand letter was received by TMZ, a $1 million demand, which we quickly found out was presented by a hoaxer," Nantz continued.

"And then you have this second demand for $6 million. It just is not typically what kidnappers do," he said.

"And with no proof of life being offered, this is all very, very odd," Nantz said.

"And at this point, it's starting to beg the question: Are we really dealing with a kidnapping?"

Based on public information to date, Nantz said he isn't sure what is happening.

"It could be a home invasion gone wrong," he said.

"We could have third parties involved in this who are simply trying to extort and prey upon the family and this very tragic situation," Nantz continued.

"So ... there are a lot of things that could be at play here."

The retired FBI agent said accepted understanding points to kidnappings typically happening based on criminals seeking profit or revenge.

"And this just doesn't seem to fit the normal analysis or the normal MO [modus operandi] with regard to kidnappings," he said.

Detectives and agents continued to perform follow-up work at multiple locations as part of the investigation, according to an email Sunday from the Pima County Sheriff's Department.

The agency said in the email to media that it would not yet provide details about that work.
"Investigators have not identified any suspects, persons of interest, or vehicles connected to this case," read the email.

In a video released Monday, just hours before a purported ransom deadline apparently set by Nancy Guthrie's abductors, Savannah Guthrie said the family is "at an hour of desperation" in the search for her missing mother.

She didn't mention the deadline in the video, saying her family in Arizona continues to believe the 84-year-old is out there and hearing everyone's prayers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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