EX-FBI Assistant Director Questions If Savannah Guthrie's Mom Was 'Really' Kidnapped In Chilling Remarks

Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker has commented on the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie.

He highlighted key aspects of the case, including the handling of ransom demands and the absence of verified proof of life.

Chris Swecker's remarks come as the family has shared public appeals for her safe return. At the same time, law enforcement continues to gather evidence at the scene of Nancy Guthrie's alleged kidnapping.

A former senior FBI official is casting doubt on claims that Savannah Guthrie's 84-year-old mother, Nancy, is alive and being held by kidnappers.

Chris Swecker, who previously served as an FBI Assistant Director, said he finds the situation highly questionable during an appearance on Fox News' "The Big Weekend Show" on Sunday.

"I'm very skeptical of this," Swecker said, per the New York Post. "Is this really a kidnapping? Does somebody really have her, and is she really alive?"

His comments came after Savannah and her two siblings shared emotional appeals on social media, urging those who claim to have their mother to bring her home.

The family has reportedly agreed to meet ransom demands that have climbed as high as $6 million.

Swecker pointed out that in genuine kidnapping cases, proof of life is usually straightforward to provide, something he says has not happened here in any credible or verified way.

"If this was a kidnapping, it would be a very simple matter to authenticate and provide proof of life," he explained. "You have to allow for the possibility that this was something more or something other than a kidnapping."

Swecker also questioned the rapidly changing ransom amounts, noting that the demand reportedly jumped from $1 million to $6 million within a short period of time.

"I really think there's a third party here that's just playing with them, opportunists who think they can exploit this situation," he said.

Since Nancy's disappearance from her home in Tucson, at least two messages claiming to be ransom notes have circulated.

One of them, sent to multiple media organizations last week, outlined two deadlines, one that has already passed and another set for Monday, according to FBI officials.

Authorities say Nancy was last seen on January 31. She was reported missing the following day after a friend from church said she never arrived for a service on February 1.

Police believe the elderly woman was taken "against her will." On February 6, the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff's Department confirmed they were reviewing another note connected to the case.

"Investigators are actively inspecting the information provided in the message for its authenticity," the sheriff's department said in a statement posted on X.

Meanwhile, law enforcement activity ramped up Friday at the Tucson residence of Nancy as investigators intensified efforts to uncover new information surrounding her disappearance.

Several police vehicles were stationed at the home for much of the day, and authorities were later seen towing away a blue SUV from the property.

Besides towing away the SUV, investigators were also observed removing what appeared to be a device from the roof, though officials have not clarified what role, if any, the items play in the ongoing case.

The Pima County Sheriff's Office has not yet said why the vehicle was taken for examination.

While detectives continue to search the home, officials say the investigation is widening beyond Arizona's borders.

FBI Phoenix Public Affairs Officer Brooke A. Brennan confirmed that billboards featuring Nancy's image and FBI contact details will soon be displayed across parts of Texas, New Mexico, and California in hopes of generating new leads.

Authorities are again urging anyone with information to reach out to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. A $50,000 reward remains available for tips that result in Nancy's safe recovery "and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance."

Investigators are also working to piece together a clearer timeline of Nancy's final known hours.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said her doorbell camera stopped functioning around 1:47 a.m. early Sunday, a time when investigators believe she was still inside the home and asleep.

Although the camera went offline, motion was later recorded around 2:12 a.m., leaving a roughly 20-minute gap that remains unexplained.

NBC News law enforcement analyst Tom Winter said the interruption could have been intentional. He suggested the camera may have been tampered with as a way to "test" whether law enforcement would respond immediately, though he cautioned that investigators have not yet identified which camera detected the later motion.

Authorities have also confirmed that blood discovered outside the residence has been identified as Nancy's. Speaking during a press briefing, Sheriff Nanos said the evidence makes clear that she did not leave voluntarily and that the home is being treated as an active crime scene.