The search for Savannah Guthrie's mum, Nancy Guthrie, has reached a critical point after the family received a ransom demand. The authorities, however, didn't take it seriously and considered it a 'probable hoax'. Nancy is still missing and has been away from her family for nearly two weeks already.
The ransom deadline was reportedly 5 pm on Monday, 9 February, and it passed without news of any contact from the alleged kidnappers or proof of life. New updates reveal chilling footage before she went missing, whilst experts believe it's time to refocus efforts on more credible leads.
Former SWAT team captain Josh Schirard weighed in on reports about the ransom demand the Guthries received from alleged kidnappers. The family was asked to pay £4.7 million ($6 million) worth ofBitcoin, and Savannah pledged to pay.
Schirard spoke withRadar Onlineand shared his thoughts about the incident. According to him, it was a 'probable hoax' because the demand could be from someone seeking to exploit desperate family members. 'This just tells us that, okay, this wasn't real,' he explained.
VeteranFBIspecial agent Lance Leising shared the same sentiment. According to him, 'in legitimate ransom cases' kidnappers immediately make their demands, so communication between them and family members typically happens just hours after the abduction. Also, 'proof of life is produced early and often', which didn't happen in Nancy's case. 'Here, the opposite happened. This case has not followed the history of a typical kidnapping at all,' Leising added.
Schirard believed it's time to 'refocus efforts' and consider pursuing several leads. The expert added that the majority of abductions involve individuals 'the abducted person knows', like family members or friends.
Breaking..The FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department found new video of Nancy Guthrie’s home that may have been lost, corrupted, or inaccessible due to a variety of factors - including the removal of recording devices.watch full in comment.pic.twitter.com/JGSbb4pEbD
Local law enforcement recently conducted an intensive search of a septic tank located on the Guthrie family property. Despite initial forensic concerns, investigators reveal the thorough examination yielded no human remains or relevant biological evidence. The focus has now turned to a briefcase recovered near the property line, which is being processed for DNA.
Adding to the complexity is CCTV footage showing amasked suspectat the residence shortly before Nancy went missing. The man was seen holding a large bouquet of flowers, which he deliberately used to obstruct the security camera lens. The reaction suggests the man is someone Nancy knows or is familiar with her property. Police are currently attempting to trace the origin of the floral arrangement to see if it was purchased locally.
Nancy Guthrie wasreported missingon 1 February after failing to attend a church service where she was expected. She was last seen the previous day. Her mysterious disappearance disturbed many because her personal belongings and vehicle were left at home.
Source: International Business Times UK
