Bethenny Frankel Shares Bizarre Theory About Who Could've Abducted Missing Nancy Guthrie

"Real Housewives of New York" star Bethenny Frankel recently shared a crazy theory about who might've been responsible for the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of "TODAY" host Savannah Guthrie.

In an Instagram video, Frankel reflected on what might've happened the night Nancy went missing, questioning whether someone close to Savannah could've been involved.

Nancy Guthrie has been missing for 12 days. Reports that she was missing first made headlines on Sunday, February 1, 2026. Since then, shocking ransom notes have emerged; however, Arizona law enforcement officials have continued to question the letters' authenticity.

To begin her video, Frankel mentioned that law enforcement officials have discussed the specifics of the ransom letter, noting that some of them were sent to local Arizona news stations. Continuing, Frankel mentioned how Savannah used to work in Arizona before questioning whether a spiteful ex-coworker could've had a hand in 84-year-old Nancy's disappearance.

"So is it some competitive journalist that Savannah won, got the gig, broke out, and made all the big bucks, and that person has resentment and wants to get their payday that they deserve?" she asked. "I have not heard anything like that, and why does that type of thing sound logical to me?"

Arizona law enforcement officers have said that Nancy Guthrie was "taken from the home against her will, possibly in the middle of the night," according to Page Six.

A spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff's Department added that they believe Nancy's disappearance could be a "possible kidnapping or abduction." They appeared to get ahead of any theories suggesting the older woman left the area on her own. "This is an elderly woman in her mid-80s who suffers from ailments… she couldn’t go 50 yards," they added.

Additionally, Chris Nanos of the PCSD described Nancy as "sharp as a tack," noting that she wasn't the type to wander off because of her "physical limits."

Amid the search for Nancy, her potential captors have sent at least three ransom letters to different media outlets, according to an earlier report from The Blast.

JJ McKinnney of the Tucson ABC affiliate KGUN9 reported earlier that the ransom letters his studio received demanded payment of $6 million by Monday, February 9, at 5 PM local time.

Despite the demands, some experts and law enforcement officers aren't convinced the ransom letters are real, with one former FBI agent noting one detail that stands out to him as odd.

In the ransom note, Nancy's possible abductors requested the funds be sent in USD, leading Michael Harrigan to wonder whether the authors of the letter are even in the United States.

"If you're domestic, why would you ever put 'USD?' You put 6 million," Harrigan said. "Why would you use that if you're a domestic person? That points to somebody who might be potentially outside the country."

Their insistence on the funds being sent in American currency also leads Harrigan to believe it could all be "a scam."

According to NBC News, authorities released security photos and videos of a potential suspect in the investigation. The subject was seen wearing a mask, gloves, and a backpack. In the videos, they are shown messing with Nancy's security footage the day she disappeared.

A man named Carlos Palazuelos was detained earlier this week in connection with the case but was later released. While speaking with the media, Palazuelos confirmed he was a delivery driver but couldn't recall whether he'd delivered anything to Guthrie's home.

In a public video, Savannah pleaded for help while also revealing her family was relying on their faith to get them through this storm. "We believe that somehow, some way, she is feeling these prayers and that God is lifting her even in this moment and in this darkest place," she said.

On Thursday, February 12, 2026, images of a white tent being erected at the front of Nancy Guthrie's property went viral, prompting a flood of reactions.

It's unclear exactly why the tent was set up, but NewsNation shared that forensic tents are usually erected to "protect and preserve evidence or to conceal a body, weapon, or other critical evidence."