‘We know why he did this’: Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapping a ‘targeted attack,’ investigator says kidnapper could ‘strike again’

Nancy Guthrie is still reported missing as of this writing. Since Feb. 1, the disappearance of the 84-year-old has been the subject of a lot of speculation and even a heartbreaking ransom offer of $1 million from her daughter, Savannah Guthrie, alongside her other children. Now authorities are revealing that whoever was behind the kidnapping might be targeting more people in the area.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has been leading this tragic case. While there are still few clues leading to the suspect — with the exception of a video showing a masked individual at the scene of the crime — Sheriff Nanos wants to pass along a warning to the community in Tucson, Arizona.

Nanos believes that his department has been able to determine the kidnapper’s motive but has chosen to keep it close to his chest because divulging the information could disrupt the investigation. But whatever Nanos has uncovered has led him to conclude that while Nancy’s abduction was definitely targeted, that doesn’t necessarily mean everyone else is safe.

According to Page Six, Nanos said, “It’d be silly to tell people, ‘Yeah, don’t worry about it. You’re not his target.’” Nanos continued, urging residents not to “think for a minute that because it happened to the Guthrie family, [it’s] safe” for everyone else.

Sheriff Nanos advised anyone in the area to “keep your wits about you.” He shared that investigators now have enough evidence to begin understanding why Nancy was abducted and why the kidnapper may have done it. Still, Nanos tempered expectations, adding, “We are not 100% sure.”

At this point, there are still than answers about the case. Nanos clearly has more information than he is letting on — it’s six weeks in, and he still, at the very least, seems to have a suspect he wants to catch by surprise. For Savannah and her siblings, Annie and Camron, the situation could not be more dire. Savannah’s pleas have touched many people, and even the president recently extended his concerns and supported her appeals, despite his usual reservations with the press.

Recently, Savannah released a video alongside her siblings acknowledging that their mother may very well already be gone. But on the hopeful chance that this is not the case, she offered the abductor $1 million. Savannah said in the video, “If this is what is to be, then we will accept it, but we need to know where she is. We need her to come home.”

Savannah has been trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy. Reportedly, she was seen returning to NBC and was immediately consoled by tearful colleagues. She is not yet ready to go back in front of the cameras, so for now she has been handling behind-the-scenes elements of producing the news feed.

A spokesman for the network’s morning show revealed that Savannah will return soon, saying she “plans to return” as soon as she is able to process the situation within her family.

Colleagues Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones have already prepared a warm welcome for her, saying, “Even though it feels like the hardest thing to do, it’s also her home and where she feels so loved.”