Savannah Guthrie mother kidnapping crime scene ‘ruined’
Police in the Savannah Guthrie mother-snatching case are being criticized by an FBI expert for failing to seal off the missing octogenarian’s home as a crime scene. RadarOnline.com can reveal.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen at her home in Tucson on Saturday around 9:30 p.m., according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
But officials reportedly cleared the house as a crime scene for the family after her disappearance, before returning to lock it down on Wednesday, February 4.
The house was released back to Nancy’s family on Tuesday. But officers from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department were seen back at Nancy’s home yesterday afternoon, putting up yellow crime scene tape.
Police dogs were also used to sweep the house, but it is unclear why police returned to the house four days after Nancy’s disappearance.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said in a tweet that it was “conducting follow-up” at the home, but provided no further details.
Tracy Schandler WalderThe 48-year-old former CIA officer and FBI special agent has now said: ‘I have been very hesitant to really pass judgment on what happened. I think it’s kind of disrespectful to the family to do that so early.
‘But there are a few things. One thing I have a problem with is that Nancy’s house, the crime scene, was released way too early. I think it was probably the Pima County Sheriff who released it. I can’t imagine the FBI, and I don’t always defend them, doing that.
“We’re only trained to hold it for as long as necessary. And if people have a problem with it, that’s on them. But they now have to go back and forth and re-secure it as a crime scene, which will be very difficult to do.”
“Some of the evidence could have been compromised. So I mean, to be honest, I don’t normally throw law enforcement under the bus, but I’m very disappointed that that was released so quickly,” she added.
Walder denounced law enforcement as NBC Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, 54, and her family have appeared on video for the first time to make an emotional plea for their mother Nancy’s return.
In the tearful, emotional, nearly four-minute video, posted on Instagram on Wednesdaythe announcer sat with her two siblings and told Nancy’s kidnappers to “know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is alive and that you have her.”
Savannah, her sister Annie and brother Camron Guthrie also shared loving messages with their mother, greeting the petite octogenarian as “a kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light.”
Annie Guthrie said, “The light is missing from our lives,” as the hunt for Nancy enters its fifth day.
Savannah added, “On behalf of our family, we would like to thank you all for the prayers for our beloved mother, Nancy. We feel them, and we keep believing that she feels them too. Our mother is a kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light.
“She is funny, feisty and smart. She has grandchildren who adore her and crowd around her and cover her with kisses. She loves fun and adventure. She is a devoted friend. She is full of kindness and knowledge. Talk to her, and you will see.
“Our mother is our heart and our home. She is 84 years old. Her health, her heart, is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She is without medicine. She needs it to survive. She needs it not to suffer. We have also heard the reports of a ransom note in the media.”
She concluded, “As a family, we do everything we can.” We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images can be easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and are ready to listen. Please contact us.”
