Nancy Guthrie Was Not the Intended Target, Ex-FBI Agent Suggests Shocking ‘Stalker’ Theory

An expert has suggested that Savannah Guthrie may have deeper ties to her mother, Nancy Guthrie, than previously disclosed. Nancy Guthrie, 84, vanished from her home in Catalina Foothills on the night between January 31 and February 1.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Pima County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) have been searching for her but have not yet located her. Investigators believe Nancy Guthrie was forcefully taken from her home by a kidnapper.

But according to former criminal profiler Jim Fitzgerald, Nancy Guthrie may not have been abducted for ransom. Instead, he thinks the kidnapper wanted to psychologically target Savannah. “This has something to do with Savannah on a stalking-type scenario,” Fitzgerald said in an interview with investigative journalist Brian Entin.

“That’s why this is so out of the ordinary in terms of not having been solved, because a lot of the usual causation factors for these types of abductions—seemingly it wasn’t a kidnapping for profit. I said that almost from the very first day. It has to do something with Savannah. Again, I’m being very careful here,” he said.

Fitzgerald added that the stalker wanted to hurt Savannah. Since they could not reach her, they decided to target her loved one. “There’s some stalker, someone out there who couldn’t get close to her, so he did the next best thing and translated that however you choose to and went after her mother,” Fitzgerald explained.

The retired profiler highlighted that his theory could actually help investigators track down the kidnapper. Fitzgerald said the stalker may have tried to contact Savannah earlier. Hence, he believes detectives should review the Today show host’s emails to identify a potential suspect.

“Therein I think the answer lies. And therein the behavioralist can best help. Show me a couple of emails in a row from someone, even over the course of a few years, and let’s focus on that person and find out where they were, you know, in early February of this year,” Fitzgerald said.

Savannah previously revealed that she does consider herself responsible for her mother’s disappearance. In a March 2026 interview with Hoda Kotb, the journalist said her status as a public figure might have prompted kidnappers to target her mother for ransom.

“I don’t know that it’s because she’s my mom, and somebody thought, ‘That lady has money, we could make a quick buck.’ I mean, that would make sense, but we don’t know, but yeah, that’s probably. Which is too much to bear, to think that I brought this to her bedside, that it’s because of me. I just say, I’m so sorry, Mommy. I’m so sorry. … If it is me, I’m so sorry,” Savannah said in tears.

Meanwhile, the search for Nancy continues. The FBI is currently focusing on DNA evidence collected early in the investigation and previously tested at a private lab. The sample is now being reexamined at an official facility. Nancy’s family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to her whereabouts.