Armchair detectives flood social media as search for Savannah Guthrie’s missing mom continues

Social media has erupted with theories and speculation following the apparent abduction of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie. Since authorities believe she was taken against her will from her home near Tucson, Arizona a week ago, online sleuths have flocked to various platforms to share information, theories, and conduct their own investigations.

The case has quickly transformed into a digital phenomenon, with millions of viewers engaging with content across Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, and YouTube. Some influencers have shared timelines of events, posted photos of blood found on Guthrie’s porch (later confirmed to be hers), while others have filmed themselves searching her neighborhood or pointed fingers at individuals they deem suspicious.

Michael Alcazar, adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and retired New York Police Department detective, sees some value in this widespread social media attention. “More people are aware; it keeps people alert,” he explained. “If they know she hasn’t been found yet, perhaps people will remember that and if they see something, they might say something.”

Alcazar drew parallels to the 2021 disappearance and death of Gabby Petito, where social media played a significant role in the investigation. In that case, two YouTubers claimed that footage they posted showing Petito’s white van may have helped investigators locate her remains, though the FBI never confirmed this connection.

“I think it’s just something that we have to adapt to as far as law enforcement,” Alcazar noted. “The true crime community is growing… There’s a lot of people out there that want to help.”

However, the digital frenzy has also fueled rampant misinformation. A particularly damaging incident occurred when NewsNation’s Ashleigh Banfield stated on her podcast that a family member was possibly a prime suspect, according to her law enforcement source. Though she quickly softened her statement, the damage was done as social media users began identifying and posting photos of the named individual.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos was forced to address this rumor directly during a news conference, clarifying that authorities had no suspects or persons of interest. “I plead with you to be careful of what it is we put out there… You could actually be doing some damage to the case, you could do some damage to the individual, too,” he warned. “Social media’s kind of an ugly world sometimes.”

The online conversation has ventured into increasingly speculative territory, with some posts featuring self-proclaimed mediums using supernatural methods to locate Guthrie or astrologers attempting to divine what happened to her.

Calvin Chrustie, who has extensive experience in kidnapping and ransom negotiations, emphasized that such unsubstantiated speculation creates additional challenges. “This stuff on X and other stuff out there that’s pure speculation is actually making it more difficult for the families and making it more difficult to the police to secure the safe return of the hostage,” he explained.

Not all social media engagement has been harmful, though. Julie Urquhart, an elementary school teacher from New Brunswick, Canada, has been sharing information about the case across multiple platforms. She says she sources her content exclusively from credible news outlets and official law enforcement statements. One of her posts garnered over 4 million views.

“That’s 4 million eyes that now saw that story and now maybe will see something or know something or know someone who does,” Urquhart said. “There’s just so many people it hits.”

As the search for Nancy Guthrie continues, the case highlights the complex and evolving relationship between social media, true crime interest, and active police investigations. While increased awareness may help locate missing persons, the spread of unverified information and amateur sleuthing can potentially impede official efforts and harm innocent individuals caught in the crossfire of speculation.