The search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie continues as investigators and forensic experts examine new details tied to her disappearance. Guthrie, the mother of Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been missing since late January. This was after she was reportedly taken from her home in Tucson, Arizona. Now, a retired FBI agent has offered a theory about what the blood evidence outside the residence might suggest.
Blood evidence in Nancy Guthrie hints she was wrapped up and carried, says ex-FBI agent
Retired FBI special agent Maureen O’Connell recently discussed the case during an appearance on “Brian Entin Investigates.” She examined the blood evidence found near the front door of Guthrie’s home. Based on the visible forensic evidence, O’Connell said she believes it is unlikely Guthrie walked out of the house on her own.
“I doubt that she walked out,” O’Connell said. She explained that investigators typically expect to see interruptions, known as “voids,” in blood patterns when someone walks through an area where droplets have fallen.
According to her , those voids do not appear to be present in the publicly released photos. “You would have a void here from one foot or from another foot or from something,” she said. “There don’t appear to be any voids.”
Instead, O’Connell suggested the shape of the blood droplets appears consistent and rounded. In her view, that detail could imply the blood fell straight downward without being disturbed by movement. “In my mind, she’s wrapped up in something and they’re carrying her out,” O’Connell added.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her Catalina Foothills home. Per reports, her daughter Annie Guthrie and son-in-law Tommaso Cioni dropped her off that evening. Concern grew the next day when a friend reported that Guthrie did not attend a scheduled church service, prompting the family to report her missing.
Not all experts agree with O’Connell’s interpretation. Former FBI profiler Jim Clemente said on the same episode that the droplets do appear to have fallen “straight down” rather than being cast while moving quickly. However, he questioned whether Guthrie was fully wrapped.
“If she was wrapped up and she’s still spattering blood, then she wasn’t wrapped up well,” Clemente said. According to him, Guthrie may have been injured while attempting to fight off an attacker. Despite extensive searches and a $1 million reward offered by the family, the case has produced few confirmed leads.
Originally written by Zahrah Patel on Reality Tea.
