Because the hunt for Nancy Guthrie continues, a number of consultants are weighing in on the significance of proof of life in her case.
“Ransom is usually not paid with out proof of life as a result of paying with out verification dangers funding a criminal offense with no probability of restoration,” Dan Donovanthe Founder and Managing Accomplice of Stratoscope Holdings, a safety and danger administration agency, solely tells Us Weekly. “Proof of life is crucial: it confirms the sufferer is alive, validates that the communicators management the sufferer, and helps assess credibility and intent.”
Retired FBI agent Scott Curtis agrees and shares a warning concerning the alleged ransom risk Nancy’s family members — together with her daughters, At present cohost Savannah Guthrie and Annie Guthrieand son Cameron Guthrie — acquired. (The 84-year-old’s alleged abductor or abductors demanded a reported $6 million by 5 p.m. MST by February 9).
“I consider they haven’t acquired proof of life. You’re not going to make a ransom fee except you might have proof of life as a result of as soon as that fee goes (via), you’ll by no means hear from these kidnappers once more, proper?” Curtis tells Us. “So that you need proof. You need some sort of assure.”
Nancy Guthrie
Instagram/Savannah GuthrieHe additionally warns that there isn’t a technical assure with superior expertise.
“There nonetheless could possibly be some doubt in that proof of life, particularly on this AI generated world we’re residing in now,” Curtis cautions. “It couldn’t be a nonetheless {photograph}. It must be a video with audio with some definitive date stamp on there.”
Former CIA officer and FBI particular agent Tracey Walder stresses that it’s the Guthrie household’s choice to pay a ransom or not. (A number of notes have been despatched to media retailers, claiming to be Nancy’s kidnapper and asking for cash, together with Bitcoin. The FBI has not but confirmed to the general public if any of the ransom notes are actual).
“I don’t suppose they ever acquired an image or something like that, however perhaps within the second observe it had (particulars of) one thing which will have occurred to her or not occurred to her,” Walder says. “Whether or not or to not pay that call lies solely with the household, not the FBI.”
The digital camera found on Nancy Guthrie’s roof could possibly be a vital piece to her kidnapping investigation, in accordance with an skilled. “That’s not a throwaway element — it’s doubtlessly some of the necessary clues,” Dan Donovan, the founder and managing associate of Stratoscope Holdings, a safety and danger administration agency, solely tells Us Weekly. As (…)
She additionally sympathizes with the battle Savannah, 54, and her siblings face.
“We don’t know what we’d do in that state of affairs. We could say, ‘Oh I’m not paying $6 million with out proof of life,’ but when it was your 84-year-old mom, and also you had that cash, then perhaps you’ll.”
On February 10, the FBI launched pictures and video from Nancy’s doorbell digital camera, displaying a masked man armed with what gave the impression to be a gun outdoors her entrance door in Tucson, Arizona, on the evening she disappeared.
The person wore a backpack and gloves as they tried to cowl the digital camera with their hand and vegetation from the entrance yard.
Safety skilled Dan Donovan is weighing in on attainable subsequent steps because the seek for Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, continues. “The 5 p.m. deadline isn’t the tip of the clock — it’s the beginning of essentially the most harmful window,” Donovan, founder and managing associate of safety and danger administration agency Stratoscope Holdings, solely instructed (…)
Later that very same day, a person from the neighboring city of Rio Rico was detained and questioned in reference to the disappearance of Nancy. He was subsequently launched and has maintained his innocence.
Savannah has shared a number of emotional messages since her mom’s disappearance on February 1.
“We consider she remains to be alive. Convey her dwelling,” she wrote by way of Instagram on Tuesday after the pictures of the masked man have been launched. “Anybody with data, please contact 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or the Pima County Sheriff’s Division 520-351-4900.”