There’s a shocking development in the kidnapping case involving ‘TODAY’ anchor Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy. According to Ashleigh Banfield, the former host of “Banfield” on NewsNation, her son-in-law may be the prime suspect. Banfield reported on Tuesday night that Tommaso Cioni has been identified by police as a potential suspect in the case, citing a trusted law enforcement source.
The veteran journalist reports that Cioni is married to Annie, who is the sister of Savannah. They were the last known individuals to see Nancy on Saturday night. Annie allegedly had dinner with Nancy that evening, but it is unclear if Cioni was also present, according to TMZ.
Nancy’s family contacted the police on Sunday after they learned that she did not attend her regular church service that day.
Furthermore, Banfield reports that investigators have towed Annie’s car, which has a “some connection” to 50-year-old Cioni. Banfield also notes that all the cameras at Nancy’s home in Tucson, Arizona, have been damaged.
On Tuesday, NewsNation released a video showing a trail of blood leading to the front steps of Nancy’s house. The Los Angeles Times also reported that blood found at the crime scene belonged to Nancy.
TMZ received an alleged ransom note from unknown individuals demanding payment for Nancy’s release. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI are investigating the authenticity of the note.
Police report that Nancy was kidnapped from her home in the middle of the night over the weekend. Investigators are working quickly to locate her, as they believe that time is critical. Nancy is 84 years old, in poor health, and does not have access to her daily medication, the entertainment site noted.
Nancy pacemaker stopped syncing with her Apple Watch early on Sunday morning, according to reports.
Fox News was informed by law enforcement that the 84-year-old’s heart device stopped sending data to the watch at about 2 a.m. on Sunday. Investigators found that Guthrie’s Apple Watch was still in her house, which means that the devices stopped “syncing” when the pacemaker was out of Bluetooth range.
Apple Watches can connect to health devices like pacemakers, which lets people check their vital signs through Bluetooth. Pacemakers are devices that are surgically implanted to treat irregular heart rhythms by sending small electrical signals to the heart.
The Apple Watch data gives a possible timeline for the kidnapping and makes the Daily Mail’s story about how Guthrie was dragged from her bed in the middle of the night even more disturbing.
Authorities say that Guthrie was last seen at her home on Saturday around 9:45 p.m.
Friends became worried after she didn’t show up to church on Sunday morning.
Chris Nanos, the sheriff of Pima County, told the Daily Mail that he thinks Guthrie was kidnapped. He also said that investigators found “concerning” evidence of foul play inside her home.
Nanos said that Guthrie needs to take her medicine every day and that she could die if she doesn’t.
Fox News contributor and former FBI special agent Nicole Parker argued that Savannah Guthrie’s mother was likely abducted by someone with a “deep grievance” rather than a “stranger.”
Host Sean Hannity asked on his program this week, “I know from discussions we’ve had on the air, off the air, over the years, that, you know, when you talk to victims, how hard this is. And I mean it when I say I’m praying for Savannah, her mother, I want her back. What frustrates me is why — and she deserves all the attention.”
“I agree with you. I want Savannah Guthrie’s mother to be returned alive as well. And I do believe that all of the names that you scroll, those lives matter, Sean. They matter very, very much. And they may not be from famous families or famous talk show hosts, but you know what? They matter,” Parker argued.