Kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart has expressed her belief that Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today anchor Savannah Guthrie, could still be alive and return home, more than four months after her disappearance.
Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Arizona residence on the morning of February 1, sparking a nationwide search. Authorities have yet to identify a suspect or determine whether she is alive. Smart, who was abducted at age 14 in 2002 and held captive for nine months before being rescued, shared her perspective in an interview with CNN host Erin Burnett.
When asked if there is a possibility Guthrie survived, Smart responded: "Absolutely. Absolutely. She could absolutely still be alive. There are cases that span many more years than mine does and they came back alive. And we're talking years and years. So she could absolutely still be alive." She acknowledged the "alternative" but emphasized, "until we know...we have to keep looking. She deserves, either way, to be brought home."
Smart's Own Ordeal
Smart was taken at knifepoint from her Salt Lake City home by Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee. During her nine-month captivity, she endured abuse and rape. After her rescue in March 2003, she became an advocate for child safety, founding the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, which offers self-defense training and trauma support. Recently, she has taken up bodybuilding, describing it as a way to reflect on her survival.
"My body has carried me through every worst day, every hellish grueling experience, it's created and nurtured three beautiful children, my body has risen to every single challenge life has presented it with, and carried me through so I refuse to be ashamed of it," Smart wrote on Instagram. "I refuse to feel embarrassed about trying something new and am embracing my chance at life to the absolute fullest I can."
Investigation Details
Nancy Guthrie was last seen outside her home on the night of January 31. After she was reported missing, investigators discovered DNA evidence inside the house and video footage of a masked person on the property that night. Her blood was also found on the porch. Authorities believe she was taken from her home in the middle of the night. Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have offered a $1 million reward for information leading to their mother's recovery.
Rape Crisis provides support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. In England and Wales, call 0808 802 9999; in Scotland, 0808 801 0302; in Northern Ireland, 0800 0246 991. In the US, contact Rainn at 800-656-HOPE (4673).
