Crime Stories with Nancy Grace Episode: Savannah Guthrie Mom Missing: Day 24 (Feb 24, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie, missing for 24 days after her abduction from her home. Featuring a deeply emotional plea from her daughter, Savannah Guthrie, the discussion traverses investigative challenges, new fragmentary evidence, theories regarding the perpetrator’s actions, and forensic developments. Host Nancy Grace is joined by criminal investigative reporter Dave Mack, FBI cellular data expert Scott Eicher, renowned psychoanalyst Dr. Bethany Marshall, and forensic DNA analyst Susanna Ryan. Together, they analyze the available evidence, debate emerging theories, and amplify the Guthrie family’s call for public assistance in hopes of finding Nancy Guthrie.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Family’s Desperate Plea & Community Response

• Savannah Guthrie’s Emotional Statement

  • Savannah appeals to the public, sharing the family’s agony and hope, while announcing a $1 million reward for information leading to her mother's recovery, and a $500,000 donation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
  • She underscores the family's faith, the power of prayers, and their need for answers.
  • Quote (Savannah Guthrie, 02:47):

    “We still believe in a miracle. We still believe that she can come home. Hope against hope… we are blowing on the embers of hope.”

  • She invites anyone with information to come forward, and extends compassion to other families in similar pain.

• Nancy Grace’s Reaction

  • Nancy recognizes Savannah’s extraordinary composure and empathy despite her suffering, noting the family’s generosity and outreach to other missing persons’ families.
  • Quote (Nancy Grace, 06:54):

    “Whoever knows about Nancy Guthrie’s whereabouts and does not act must have a heart of stone.”

Analysis of Evidence: The Porch Video Dilemma

• Theories Around the 'Porch Guy'

  • Central focus is on grainy porch cam stills showing a masked figure—possibly with a backpack and gun—trying to breach the front door.
  • Debate arises as to whether there are two different suspects or two images of the same person at different times.
  • The images are not timestamped, making their sequence uncertain.
  • Dave Mack explains (10:31):

    “The videos from the front porch are not timestamped… they cannot get a timestamp. We don’t know the day, time or anything… So everything is speculation.”

  • Scott Eicher describes the process (15:51):

    “They were able to dig deep into the cloud… and pull this video. The problem was no time stamps, no date stamps. So that’s where we’re running into this speculation.”

  • Nancy and experts debate:
    • Whether the backpack photo came first or after, and if the suspect left and returned or simply changed appearance.
    • Whether the two images are from separate reconnaissance attempts (possibly showing premeditation).

• Speculation vs. Investigation

  • Nancy stresses the need for logical deduction with limited evidence, referencing her prosecutorial experience:
    • Quote (Nancy Grace, 09:04):

      “When I’m trying a case, I lead with my strongest evidence… hit it and quit it. That’s almost all we have, is the video of the porch guy. But I guarantee you it’s not all that there is.”

• Broader Search for Evidence

  • Investigators are requesting neighborhood surveillance footage from January 11 (9pm – midnight)—possibly indicating the suspect cased the area weeks prior.
  • This could shift timelines and expand the search for corroborating evidence.

Behavioral and Motive Profiling

• Psychoanalytic Profiling (Dr. Bethany Marshall, 22:22)

  • The suspect may be preoccupied with Nancy Guthrie for personal or financial reasons.
  • The suspect’s nonchalance and fixation on his gun suggest possible intimidation tactics rather than outright violence.
  • Quote (Dr. Bethany Marshall, 22:39):

    “There’s something very odd about his body language… makes me as interested in what we’re not seeing as what we’re seeing.”

  • Nancy draws parallels to other notorious cases, such as the Delphi murders, noting the psychological impact of “brandishing” a weapon.

• Profile of an Elderly Victim Kidnapper (43:36)

  • Dr. Marshall proposes that the perpetrator is likely a “dangerous dependent”—an individual who preys on seniors for financial exploitation.
  • Quote (Dr. Bethany Marshall, 43:49):

    “Someone who gravitates towards work or relationships with senior citizens where they can exploit them in very complex ways…”

New Evidence: The 911 Call

• 911 Call Details (34:10 and 35:25)
  • Around 2:01–2:04am on the night of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, a 911 caller reported a woman screaming, partially hanging from the window of a dark blue/gray Chevy Malibu, with the door open, near Oracle and River—about three miles from the Guthrie home.
  • This coincides closely with the time Nancy’s pacemaker disconnected from her smartwatch (approx. 2:28am).
  • Dave Mack suggests this may indicate either Nancy or an accomplice panicked during an attempt to escape or abort the crime.
  • Quote (Nancy Grace, 31:41):

    “What happened? Was this really a kidnapping?”

  • The panel notes the potential significance of this timing and the vehicle in breaking the case.

Additional Sightings and Neighborhood Activity

• Other Security Cam Footage (38:54)
  • New video surfaces of a similarly outfitted individual, at a different property but in the same general area, displaying a distinct gait and wearing a backpack with reflective stripes.
  • Nancy and guests debate if this could be the same person.
  • Discussion of area residents’ vigilance and the importance of law enforcement collecting and overseeing all relevant footage.

Forensic Updates: DNA Evidence

• Lab Advances and Challenges (46:09–48:47)
  • Newly discovered mixed DNA in Nancy Guthrie's home is being examined—collected by federal authorities after initial local searches missed it.
  • Forensic DNA expert Susanna Ryan explains how profiles from workers and investigators are used to rule out contamination.
  • On mixed DNA, she describes limitations in current technology—especially when using advanced genetic genealogy (SNP processing)—but remains optimistic about progress.
  • Quote (Susanna Ryan, 47:47):

    “If you had a two-person mixture and the major contributor was the suspect, that could be worked with. If the minor contributor is the suspect, they really can’t do a lot with that right now with SNPs.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Savannah Guthrie’s heart-wrenching appeal (02:47 & 30:35):

  "Every long night has been agony since then—worrying about her, fearing for her, aching for her, and most of all, just missing her… Please be the light in the dark."

• Nancy Grace’s call to action (06:54):

  “Tonight, whoever knows about Nancy Guthrie’s whereabouts and does not act must have a heart of stone.”

• Raw investigator honesty (Dave Mack, 40:02):

  “I’m making it up. I was… trying to point out, when we’re looking at this video from the same neighborhood at night… what are the odds that we’ve got multiple people… dressed up in a very similar outfit?”

• Expert clarity (Susanna Ryan, 48:47):

  “I work on cold cases all the time… we’re just developing the DNA profile at this time, so I don’t see it as an issue.”

Important Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Topic | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 02:47 | Savannah Guthrie’s emotional public plea | | 06:54 | Nancy Grace’s analysis of Savannah’s statement | | 08:21 | First introduction to the porch video evidence | | 10:31 | Discussion on lack of timestamps in porch videos | | 15:51 | Scott Eicher explains technical challenges | | 22:22 | Dr. Bethany Marshall’s behavioral profile | | 31:41 | Discussing the validity of the kidnapping | | 34:10, 35:25| Airing of the 911 call about a screaming woman | | 38:54 | New neighborhood surveillance video introduced | | 43:36 | Elderly victim kidnapper behavioral analysis | | 46:09 | Forensic DNA work process explained | | 47:47 | Technical explanation of processing mixed DNA |

Takeaways & Calls to Action

• The Guthrie family, in crisis, maintains hope and channels the spotlight to all missing persons’ families.
• Investigators are combing through every possible piece of digital, physical, and eyewitness evidence—security videos, neighborhood tips, forensic DNA, and emerging timelines.
• Listeners are urged: If you have any information on Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, call 800-225-5324 or 520-882-7463.
• The episode is a powerful mix of expert analysis and human empathy, emphasizing both the pain of the Guthrie family and the meticulous process behind crime-solving.

“If it was your mother, wouldn’t you want someone to come forward?”
— Nancy Grace (48:47)

By tracing every angle—from technical forensics to psychological insight—the episode underscores the urgent need for public assistance, careful evidence analysis, and unwavering hope in the face of tragedy.