On February 16, Donald Trump told the New York Post that if Nancy Guthrie is ultimately found dead, he wants the harshest possible punishment pursued against whoever is responsible including capital punishment.
Nancy, the 84-year-old mother of TODAY anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been missing since around February 1. Authorities believe she was taken from her Tucson, Arizona home. Local law enforcement and the FBI have been investigating the case for more than two weeks, working to determine what happened and to bring her home safely.
Trump said those responsible would face “very, very severe the most severe” consequences. When pressed on whether that included the death penalty, he confirmed that it did.
However, legal experts caution that such statements may be premature. Tre Lovell, an attorney with the Lovell Firm, explained that a president cannot personally seek the death penalty. That authority rests with prosecutors either at the state level through a district attorney in Arizona or federally through the Department of Justice, depending on the circumstances.
Lovell emphasized that key facts are still unknown. There is no confirmed suspect. Authorities have not determined whether Nancy is alive. It is unclear whether she may have been transported across state lines, which could establish federal jurisdiction. Investigators also have not confirmed whether the legal threshold for capital punishment such as specific aggravating factors tied to a homicide has been met.
“Much more needs to be ascertained before even discussing the death penalty, let alone pursuing it,” Lovell noted.
Investigators have released doorbell camera images showing a masked individual wearing gloves and carrying a firearm near the entrance of the home. Blood identified as Nancy’s was found close to the doorway, suggesting a possible struggle. Officials have not publicly named any suspects or persons of interest.
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have shared public appeals asking for their mother’s safe return and have indicated they are willing to pay a ransom for credible information. Meanwhile, authorities continue to follow leads, including claims from an individual who says he has knowledge about the kidnapping and is demanding Bitcoin.
The investigation remains active as law enforcement works to uncover what happened and bring clarity to the case.
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