Podcast Summary

Podcast: Drop Dead Serious with Ashleigh Banfield
Episode: Stunning New Twist: Savannah's Sister's Car Seized, Cameras Smashed | Nancy Guthrie Missing Update
Date: February 4, 2026
Host: Ashleigh Banfield
Special Guest: Brian Enten (NewsNation Correspondent)

Overview

This episode delves into the rapidly developing and unsettling disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today Show anchor Savannah Guthrie, in Tucson, Arizona. Ashleigh Banfield provides exclusive new law enforcement insights and on-site reporting, including evidence of forced entry, blood inside and outside the home, smashed Nest security cameras, and a critical update that Savannah’s sister’s car has been seized. The episode explores the clues, family dynamics, and investigative challenges at play, with NewsNation’s Brian Enten joining to discuss his live observations from the scene.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Crime Scene Evidence and Developments

• Smashed Cameras:
  • Nancy Guthrie had multiple Nest security cameras at her home. These were smashed, strongly suggesting a premeditated action by someone familiar with the property layout. (Banfield: "Whoever did this knew there were two smashed them." [27:05])
  • Police have seized the destroyed cameras as evidence.
• Blood at the Scene:
  • Blood has been confirmed both inside and outside of the home.
  • Brian Enten observed blood right outside the front door, near the doormat. (Enten: "You could see that there was blood right outside the front door on the ground..." [26:12])
  • Banfield’s law enforcement sources confirm blood inside the property as well, suggesting a violent struggle and forced abduction.
• Forced Entry, Ransacked Back Door:
  • Definitive reporting confirms forced entry into the home, with the back door found wide open after the incident. It is unclear whether it was used for entry or exit.
• Critical Digital Clue – Pacemaker Disconnect:
  • Nancy Guthrie’s pacemaker was paired by Bluetooth to her Apple Watch and iPhone. All devices separated from each other at 2:00 am, creating a precise timeline for the abduction.
    (Banfield: "The 2am separation...is the time they are narrowing down this kidnapping to." [09:45])
• House and Surrounding Area:
  • The home is in a rural, unlit, non-gated area with 1–4 acre lots, making visibility and surveillance difficult.

2. Family Under Scrutiny & New Suspect Focus

• Annie Guthrie’s Car Seized:
  • Police have impounded and taken as evidence the vehicle belonging to Annie Guthrie, Nancy’s daughter and Savannah’s sister. Annie was the last known person to see Nancy alive, dropping her off at 9:45 pm. [24:15]
• Prime Suspect – Son-in-Law Tomaso Sione:
  • Law enforcement sources indicate a sharp focus on Annie Guthrie’s husband, Tomaso Sione, as a potential prime suspect.
  • Banfield underscores this is standard investigative procedure but acknowledges the gravity, given the family ties and the level of focus:
    • "Thomas Oscione is the prime suspect in this case...law enforcement source tells me." [24:17]
  • The possible motive discussed includes insurance, financial difficulty, or debts—though these are musings, not confirmed facts.
• Family Dynamics and Public Silence:
  • Banfield remarks on Savannah Guthrie’s silence and absence from media, attributing it to shock, grief, possible police advice, and the need to avoid hindering the investigation. [43:01]

3. Ransom Notes and Media Attention

• Suspicious Ransom Notes:
  • Reports have surfaced of two "ransom notes," one sent to TMZ (email) and another to Tucson’s KOLD TV.
  • The notes included purported details about what Nancy was wearing and inside information, but authorities believe they are likely hoaxes from outsiders trying to insert themselves into the case.
  • Authorities are investigating all leads and have urged the public to send tips via a special QR code.
• Media & Community Role:
  • The case has attracted intense media attention and community response. Neighbors and work crews have been canvassed for information and possible security footage from the area.

4. Law Enforcement Operations and Challenges

• FBI Involvement:
  • The FBI is now officially involved, signifying the case’s complexity and seriousness.
• Helicopter and Search Efforts:
  • A sheriff’s helicopter and search/rescue vehicles were deployed over and around the property, searching fields and cactus-dense rural land after a potential tip.
• Difficulties in Obtaining Evidence:
  • Police are frustrated at delays in obtaining cloud footage from the Nest camera company, emphasizing how crucial this evidence is.
  • The absence of street lighting and the large, spread-out lots compound the challenge for investigators.
• Digital Forensics:
  • Investigators are pinging cell phones and geofencing electronic devices to identify anyone who was present in the area during the key window (around 2:00 am).
    (Enten: "That is the number one thing the FBI is doing right now..." [40:45])

5. Impact on Savannah Guthrie and Emotional Resonance

• Savannah’s Statement:
  • Savannah posted a heartfelt request for prayers to her Instagram, emphasizing her mother’s faith and the family’s hope.
  • (Savannah Guthrie via Instagram, as read by Today Show: "We believe in prayer...raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment." [16:47])
• Personal Toll:
  • Savannah has withdrawn from the Winter Olympics assignment, a major career event, to remain with her family during the crisis.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Timeline for Abduction:
  • Banfield: "The 2am separation when the pacemaker stopped responding to the devices...is the time they are narrowing down this kidnapping to." [09:45]
• On the Nature of the Crime:
  • Banfield: "Whoever smashed those cameras, what will we see?...This isn't some random drug addict looking to rob a house. This is something far more premeditated." [11:36]
• On Law Enforcement’s Focus:
  • Banfield: "...my law enforcement source tells me that...Thomas Oscione is maybe a prime suspect in this case at this point." [24:17]
• On the Forensics & Search:
  • Enten: "You could see that there was blood right outside the front door on the ground...not a ton of blood, but it was definitely blood." [26:12]
• On Investigative Realities:
  • Enten: "This isn't like a normal neighborhood...it's pitch. We've got our lights on, but it's pitch black out here...it's a ways to the next house." [31:03]
• On Digital Forensics:
  • Enten: "They can literally narrow it down in such a way through the cell phone towers to who was right in this area and then try to follow that device...that's really what's going on behind the scenes." [40:45]
• On Family Impact:
  • Banfield: "Would you tow and impound the car of Savannah Guthrie's sister, of Nancy Guthrie's daughter, if there weren't something bigger to it? I mean, it's very loud. It's a very big move." [42:22]
• On Community Search:
  • Enten: "Police have been to all the neighbors' houses...even talking to the landscapers...people have been cooperating with the police for sure." [44:42]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:05] – Ashleigh Banfield introduction and breaking information
• [07:30 – 10:40] – Pacemaker & digital forensics (Firm 2am timeline)
• [12:12 – 13:13] – Return from ad, focusing on key law enforcement moves
• [16:30 – 17:25] – Savannah Guthrie’s statement via Today Show
• [24:15 – 25:00] – Annie Guthrie’s car impounded; suspect focus on son-in-law
• [26:12 – 32:10] – Brian Enten on-site: Blood evidence, camera locations, and house description
• [32:47 – 35:30] – Law enforcement helicopter search and ransom notes discussion
• [40:45 – 42:00] – Digital forensics and police investigative strategies
• [44:42 – 46:37] – Community involvement; DNA evidence update
• [50:47 – 51:51] – Closing reflections on search difficulties and the investigation’s intensity

Conclusion

This episode is a gripping, minute-by-minute account of the Nancy Guthrie abduction case, full of breaking details and emotional resonance. Through expert analysis and first-hand observations, Ashleigh Banfield and Brian Enten uncover significant new clues and contextualize the investigative stakes. The focus on family, digital evidence, and the significance of premeditated actions makes for a tense and revealing update, with the investigation expected to evolve rapidly in the days ahead.