Nancy Guthrie Abduction Part of Mexican Drug Cartel’s ‘Money-Making’ Scheme, Investigator Claims

A private investigator has claimed that a Mexican drug cartel has abducted Nancy Guthrie in a money-making scheme. A California-based private investigator, Bill Garcia, recently shared his assessment with Border Reports. He said he believes Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie, was abducted by a Mexican cartel in a money-making scheme.

Garcia, in his interview with Border Reports, explained "that particular area of Arizona is a high drug and money transporting area." However, he said Guthrie might still be in Arizona despite his views.

According to Garcia, the California-based private investigator, the abduction may have been carried out by someone lower in the cartel's ranks. He said, "Just the appearance and the mannerisms make me believe it is a low-level associate. If Guthrie came to the front door and contacted the person, there might be some struggle, especially after the camera was removed."

If his theory is correct, Garcia does not believe Guthrie was taken across the border into Mexico.

The border security between Arizona and Latin America is very strict. "They would have chosen a location that is safe and where they are less likely to be caught in the act. That is why I suspect she would be somewhere in the northern part of Tucson, between the 100-130 mile area between Tucson and outside Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona," Garcia added.

The cartel theory was previously rejected by the Border Patrol officer, Leon Boyer. While speaking with the New York Times, he said that even if Guthrie had been taken to the south of the border, the cartel would not have been involved. "Cartels target people in Mexico; they do not target people in the U.S. What would they bring attention to themselves?" Boyer said.

Speaking with reporters earlier in February, the Pima County Chief Sheriff, Chris Nanos, said investigators are also exploring whether the abduction could be an act of revenge. However, the main motive is still unknown, he said.

Nancy Guthrie Missing Case Latest Updates

Guthrie has been missing for more than four weeks now. She was first reported missing on February 1 after she missed her scheduled church program on that particular day. Federal investigators later established a timeline suggesting Guthrie may have been kidnapped from her house in Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of February 1. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is conducting investigations in collaboration with the county sheriff's office, but the motive for abduction is still not clear.

Surveillance footage captured by the doorbell camera has become a key piece of evidence. The footage now in FBI custody, and released earlier in February, showed a masked man and an armed individual. The video showed the masked man attempting to disable the camera before entering her home early on February 1.