Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield

Episode: Breaking: FBI Floods Guthrie Property, Hauls Nancy's Car Away | Nancy Guthrie Missing Update
Date: February 7, 2026

Episode Overview

In this late-night episode, Ashleigh Banfield provides a real-time, in-depth update on the fast-moving case of Nancy Guthrie's disappearance. Reporting on the evening’s unprecedented law enforcement activity, Ashleigh details the FBI’s actions at two Guthrie family properties, the mysterious towing of Nancy’s car, and the latest odd “message” (not "ransom note") received by a local news station. Featuring sharp analysis from a former hostage negotiator and a detailed discussion with guest commentator Megyn Kelly, the episode probes inconsistencies and confusion in official statements, the unsettling nature of the communications from alleged kidnappers, and evolving theories surrounding the case.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nighttime FBI Raids and Major Developments

• Multiple Crime Scenes: Within the last hour of recording (~midnight EST), federal agents descended on both Annie Guthrie’s and Nancy Guthrie’s homes in Tucson, Arizona (04:00).
  • Annie Guthrie’s home: A brief visit by three FBI agents late at night.
  • Nancy Guthrie’s home: Crime scene activity included the towing of Nancy’s car and forensic work on security equipment (05:10).
• Unusual Law Enforcement Activity:
  • Streets were blocked, media corralled far from the scene.
  • FBI agents set up ladders, climbed onto Nancy’s roof, and removed cameras (07:00).
  • Smashed floodlights and physically removed security devices discovered (08:44).

2. Contradictory, Confusing Official Messaging

• Towed Vehicles:
  • Confusion about which vehicles were towed, why, and when (06:30, 11:30).
  • Annie’s car was reportedly towed days ago per warrant; Nancy’s car was towed away the night of the FBI’s raid.
• Law Enforcement’s Public Statements:
  • The Sheriff's shifting statements about who last saw Nancy and the towed vehicles have caused consternation.
  • Efforts to obtain the warrant details via FOIA stymied; documents are sealed (11:10).
• Ashleigh’s Commentary:
  • Highlights odd police behaviors, including early cessation of search efforts (21:10).

3. The “Not Quite Ransom” Note

• New Message to Media:
  • A strange, non-specific web form message was sent to KOLD TV in Tucson—not classified as a ransom note, sent via a simple web portal (10:00).
  • No proof of life, no contact instructions, not a traditional demand.
  • Media and family express skepticism about authenticity or usefulness.
• Hostage Negotiator Analysis:
  • Former specialist Dan O’Shea argues that legit kidnappers “play by the rules” and these actors don’t (15:49).

4. Expert Commentary on Ransom Dynamics

• Interview with Dan O’Shea – Former Hostage Negotiator (14:12–18:50):
  • “Kidnap for ransom is a business… They do this, they have a protocol. They have a system.”
  • “They're not acting in good faith… this group is going after the news media… I think this exposure may be part of it.” (15:49)
  • Media coverage and public spectacle may be motivators.
  • Violence at the scene and lack of proof of life make negotiations dangerous and nonstandard (16:52).
  • “You never pay without proof of life… especially not millions of dollars.” (18:01)
  • Warns family against sending money without evidence Nancy is alive; suggests ransom letters may be scams or distractions.

5. Scrutiny and Speculation: Family and Suspects

• Discussion with Megyn Kelly (24:31–30:58):
  • Ashleigh and Megyn address rumors and exclusive reporting that Annie Guthrie’s husband, Tomaso Cioni, may be a suspect.
  • Sheriff's repeated denials of any official suspects are contrasted with Ashleigh’s law enforcement sources.
    • Sheriff: “Nobody's eliminated, but we just really don't have enough to say, this is our suspect… You could actually be doing some damage to the case.” (25:43)
  • Ashleigh stands by her sources, rebuts criticism that family should be off-limits as persons of interest.
  • Megyn advocates for tough, unbiased reporting regardless of family sensitivities.

6. Media Ethics and Pressures

• Reporting Challenges:
  • Debate on media responsibility: “It is not inappropriate to ask questions about the family. It's actually imperative,” Ashleigh declares (24:31).
  • Acknowledgment of pushback from “friends of Savannah” who want coverage steered elsewhere.

7. The Bigger Picture: Scams and The “New Normal”

• Ashleigh speculates that sophisticated scams and fraudulent ransom attempts may increasingly surface in high-profile cases, especially with evolving technology (19:00).
• One suspect is already being prosecuted in California for fraudulently inserting himself into the Guthrie case.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ashleigh Banfield on official confusion (09:15):

  • “The sheriff has said three different things and then walked it all back saying, we're just going to go with family now. We really don't even know who the last person... to see Nancy Guthrie. I found that odd.”

• President of the United States, on Air Force One (04:28):

  • “We have some things, I think, that will maybe come out reasonably soon from DOJ or FBI or whoever that could be suspect. Yeah, it could be definitive. A lot... has taken place in the last couple of hours.”

• Dan O’Shea (Hostage Negotiator), on the oddity of the case (15:49):

  • “I've never come across this case with, you know, the demands sent to TMZ and local news media. They need to go directly to the family… This group is not playing by the rules. Therefore, the family and the others will be hesitant to move forward.”

• Dan O’Shea, advice to the family (18:01):

  • “You never pay without proof of life. Bottom line. Especially not millions of dollars… There's no guarantee... there's no guarantee that they're going to make a deal to bring home her mother safely.”

• Ashleigh Banfield, on reporting pressure (24:31):

  • “It's not inappropriate to ask questions about the family. It's actually imperative. So here's what the sheriff said. Let's listen…”

• Megyn Kelly, on media ethics (30:02):

  • “You wouldn't depend upon one of the victims of the crime to guide your investigation as a reporter of the crime. So I've just noticed there's a strain of people who… have been particularly disdainful and are trying to move the coverage elsewhere, and that just can't happen.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–01:47 – [Skip: Ads & podcast intro]
• 01:47–10:00 – Real-time update on FBI/LEO activity at two properties, vehicle towings, and crime scene processes
• 10:00–14:12 – New “ransom/message” to KOLD TV, how it was submitted, skepticism about its value
• 14:12–18:50 – Dan O’Shea (hostage negotiator) break-down: Why this case doesn’t fit ransom/kidnapping norms, family’s predicament
• 19:00–24:31 – Reflection on scams, law enforcement’s difficulties, media skepticism, and search effort perplexities
• 24:31–30:58 – Discussion with Megyn Kelly: family as suspects, media ethics, law enforcement communications, and Ashleigh’s reporting
• 31:00–32:32 – Episode wrap-up and outro remarks
• 32:32–end – [Skip: Ad break]

Summary & Takeaways

• Unprecedented police activity punctuates the mystery around Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, including simultaneous operations at two family homes and the impoundment of vehicles.
• Mixed and confusing official messaging raises as many questions as it answers—about evidence, suspects, and investigative priorities.
• The latest “note”—not a ransom demand— arrives via dubious means, highlighting the potential for scams or interference rather than genuine communication.
• Expert analysis underscores the case’s unusual characteristics and warns the family against paying any ransom absent proof of life.
• Press scrutiny and ethical questions swirl, especially around reporting on the Guthrie family itself and rumors about the sister’s husband being a person of interest.
• The episode ends with a note on the ever-changing landscape of crime, technology, and media responsibility, leaving listeners primed for further developments as the story evolves.