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Mauro continued by explaining that the erratic nature of the alleged kidnappers’ behavior may point to a plan that unraveled after the crime was already in motion.
“I feel like they’ve been playing games with the details in the house and all of that,” Mauro said. “They probably planned for the idea that they could provide proof of life, and now they find themselves in a spot where, ‘We can’t. And so what do we do? Now we gotta bargain for something else. We gotta bargain to give back something else.’”
While stressing that his theory is based only on publicly available information, Mauro acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the case and left open the possibility of a far different explanation.
“That’s my read with the limited facts we have, hoping against hope I’m wrong,” Mauro said, adding that the entire ordeal could potentially “all be a hoax.”
Lahren pressed Mauro further, seeking clarification on whether he believed the abductors may not have intended to cause harm but lost control of the situation.
“Would you say… that they didn’t mean to hurt her, but something might have gone wrong, and now they’re still trying to get their payday out of this. Is that what I heard you kind of allude to?” Lahren asked.
Mauro also raised another alarming concern, noting that Guthrie’s health may have complicated matters. According to him, Nancy Guthrie requires certain medications, and obtaining those medications without alerting authorities could have proven difficult for whoever is responsible.
As investigators intensified their efforts, federal agents were seen Sunday searching a septic tank at Guthrie’s Tucson residence — just hours before a reported $6 million ransom deadline set for Monday night. Witnesses observed deputies using long poles to probe the tank while shining flashlights inside, a scene that underscored how seriously authorities are treating every possibility.
Meanwhile, law enforcement experts have pointed out a curious detail in the ransom note that may suggest the perpetrators are not operating within the United States. The note reportedly demanded payment in Bitcoin but oddly specified the amount in U.S. dollars.
“Why would you use that if you’re a domestic person? That points to somebody who might be potentially outside the country, which also lends the potential for this being a scam,” former FBI agent Michael Harrigan told the New York Post.
“If you’re domestic, why would you ever put ‘USD?’ You put six million,” he added.
The ransom message outlined two payment deadlines — an initial cutoff at 5 p.m. Mountain Time on Thursday, followed by a higher demand if payment was delayed until Monday. Despite the public release of the note last week, the sender has not contacted law enforcement or the Guthrie family directly.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the ransom communications are authentic, and investigators continue to examine whether the entire situation could be an elaborate deception. As of now, there are no suspects, no persons of interest, and no identified vehicles linked to the disappearance.
“Detectives and agents continue to conduct follow-up at multiple locations. Details of that follow-up are not being released at this time,” the Pima County, Ariz., Sheriff’s Department stated on Sunday.
Eight days have now passed since Nancy Guthrie vanished, with the latest ransom deadline looming. The emotional toll on the family has become increasingly visible.
On Saturday, “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie appeared in a video alongside her siblings Camron and Annie, publicly pleading for their mother’s return.
“We received your message and we understand,” Guthrie said. “We beg you now to return our mother to us, so that we can celebrate with her.
“This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay,” she added.
In an effort to expand the search, billboards have been placed along major roadways in states surrounding Arizona, calling attention to the disappearance of the elderly grandmother, who went missing on January 31.
Adding to the mystery, police were seen leaving Annie Guthrie’s home on Sunday wearing gloves and carrying brown bags, as the investigation moved into its seventh day. Authorities have not disclosed what was collected or whether it is connected to the case.
As the clock ticks down and questions mount, the nation watches anxiously, hoping for answers — and praying that Nancy Guthrie’s story does not end in tragedy.
