A disturbing new twist has emerged in the kidnapping of TODAY show anchor Savannah Guthrie’s mother, and the details are getting darker by the hour. According to veteran journalist Ashleigh Banfield, investigators are now scrutinizing a member of Guthrie’s own family as a possible suspect in the case.
Banfield reported Tuesday night that police are looking closely at Tommaso Cioni, the husband of Guthrie’s sister, Annie. Citing a trusted law enforcement source, Banfield said Cioni is considered a person of interest after investigators determined that Annie and Cioni were likely the last people to see Nancy Guthrie before she vanished.
Nancy, 84, was reportedly last seen Saturday night after having dinner with her daughter Annie. It is still unclear whether Cioni was present during that visit, but investigators believe the timeline places the couple at the center of the early inquiry. Alarm bells went off Sunday when Nancy failed to show up for her regular church service, something family members say she never misses. That absence prompted the family to contact police and triggered an urgent search.
The physical evidence uncovered since then has been chilling. Banfield reported that investigators have towed Annie’s vehicle, which she said has “some connection” to Cioni. Even more troubling, security cameras at Nancy’s Tucson home were smashed, a detail that suggests planning rather than a random act.
Earlier Tuesday, NewsNation aired video showing a visible trail of blood leading up to the front steps of the home. The Los Angeles Times later reported that blood found inside the house was confirmed to belong to Nancy. That detail sharply escalated concerns about her condition and what she may have endured.
Authorities have also received what appears to be a ransom note demanding money in exchange for Nancy’s release. The note was sent directly to media outlets, a move that raises additional questions about the motives and credibility of whoever is behind it. Both the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are now working to determine whether the message is authentic or part of a larger deception.
Police have confirmed that Nancy was abducted from her home overnight during the weekend. Investigators have repeatedly stressed that time is critical. Nancy is frail, in poor health, and was taken without the daily medication she needs to survive. Every hour matters.
Attempts to reach Cioni for comment have gone unanswered. Law enforcement has declined to officially confirm Banfield’s reporting, saying only that the investigation remains active and ongoing. That silence has only fueled speculation.
What is clear is that this case has crossed from frightening to deeply unsettling. When a family member becomes part of the investigative focus, the stakes change. For now, authorities are racing the clock, following every lead, and hoping Nancy Guthrie is still alive.
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