Former Arizona Department of Public Safety Col. Frank Milstead analyzes Nancy Guthrie case

PHOENIX — As the search for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, enters its second week, a former Arizona law enforcement official shared his insights on the investigation into her disappearance.

Former Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Col. Frank Milstead said that Savannah Guthrie’s latest Instagram post Monday asking the public for help finding her 84-year-old mother “complicated things for the mind.”

“What we saw yesterday was, ‘Hey, we got your demands. We understand.’ Which I thought was very, very telling,” Milstead told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos on Monday. “This one today is almost like it went back to ground zero where (it’s), ‘Hey we don’t know anything and we need the public’s help.’ So I think a rational mind can argue this many different ways.”

“We are at an hour of desperation, and we need your help.”

“Today” show host Savannah Guthrie released a video Monday asking for everyone’s, not just those who live in Tucson, help finding her mother Nancy Guthrie. The plea comes on the same day as the second deadline provided… pic.twitter.com/BFDy00Kzox

— KTAR News 92.3 (@KTAR923) February 9, 2026

Last week, local and national news outlets received alleged ransom letters, including at least one that outlined monetary demands and specific deadlines. The first deadline passed last Thursday, and another was set for 5 p.m. Monday, according to The Associated Press.

The Associated Press also reported that as of Monday the FBI said it is unaware of any continued communications between the Guthrie family and suspected kidnappers. It added that there still have been no suspects or persons of interest identified.

Milstead indicated that the video could mean that law enforcement and the Guthrie family don’t believe the ransom demand and the communications attached to it are real. Although, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) and FBI have previously said they are taking the ransom letters seriously.

He added that he was extremely skeptical of the ransom note to begin with.

“If you look at high-profile kidnappings over the years, this is such an odd case,” Milstead said. “Why would you of all people on the planet kidnap Savannah’s mother? And then hold her for a $6 million ransom, which is an odd number as well.”

Milstead noted that typically when someone is kidnapped it is usually by someone they know.

“With all the investigative work that was going on over the weekend, I thought they were moving back towards somebody within the family,” Milstead said. “But Savannah doesn’t feel that’s true or she wouldn’t have made this video either. So, there is a lot of unknowns.”

PCSD acknowledged the law enforcement activity at the Guthrie residences over the weekend on Monday afternoon and said that it would continue into Tuesday to follow-up on new leads and as part of the expanded search.

“I have rationalized this many different ways in my mind of what I think has happened and I don’t know that any of them are close to being accurate,” Milstead said.

Frank Milstead on law enforcement’s handling of Nancy Guthrie case

PCSD has received criticism after it returned Nancy Guthrie’s home to her family last Tuesday just to put the crime scene tape back up the next day. However, Milstead believed the department doing that probably didn’t have negative affect on the investigation.

“I will tell you that … there was really no reason to take it down because there was no one else at the house. She didn’t live with anybody. There was nobody else to come and go,” Milstead said. “But I don’t know that it was catastrophic in nature in the sense that they were out there for a day and a half or two days gathering evidence, doing what they did.”

The former DPS colonel added that it isn’t uncommon for law enforcement to return to crime scenes as investigators will come up with reasons to go and look at certain things.

As far as comments about Guthrie’s disappearance being over the heads of the sheriff’s department and FBI, Milstead emphasized that they have the best people working on the investigation.

“(Sheriff) Chris Nanos has put the right people in the right places, it appears to me with the help of the federal government,” Milstead said. “And if it’s going to be solved, it’s going to have those people. … There is no one better at doing this than the FBI and maybe some of their counter parts in Israel.”

Milstead added that he doesn’t believe the FBI was called in too late either.

Where is the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance at?

At around 4:30 p.m. on Monday, PCSD said it did not have any updates regarding the investigation.

Nancy Guthrie hasn’t been seen since she was dropped off at her home in Tucson’s Catalina Foothills area on Saturday night, Jan. 31. Investigators have been working on the assumption that she was taken against her will sometime between 9:45 p.m. Saturday and just before noon Sunday.

Authorities have also warned the public about scammers attempting to exploit the situation after a California man was arrested and accused of sending a fake ransom note claiming to have abducted Nancy Guthrie.

Over the weekend, Savannah Guthrie said her family was prepared to pay for her mother’s return.

“This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”

A week after the kidnapping of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie posted a video acknowledging the demands of ransom notes. (via @SavannahGuthrie/IG)

Read more: https://t.co/d69LAAiYRM pic.twitter.com/KZSxdsKPC0

— KTAR News 92.3 (@KTAR923) February 8, 2026

“We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her,” she said in a video posted Saturday. “This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”

Authorities are continuing to ask anyone with information about the Guthrie case to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. The FBI said a $50,000 reward is being offered in the case.

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