The alleged kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, has drawn reactions from an American family familiar with the pain of kidnapping cases.
The alleged abduction of Nancy Guthrie drew a response from Elizabeth Smart’s father, abduction survivor Ed Smart. (Elizabeth Smart Foundation)Ed Smart, the father of a kidnap survivor, Elizabeth Smart, described Nancy’s abduction as “very surreal” and reflected on his own family’s ordeal. Elizabeth was kidnapped at the age of 14 and held captive for nine months in 2002 before being rescued.
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Who is Elizabeth Smart?Elizabeth Smart’s abduction caught the media spotlight and became one of the most talked-about missing-person cases.
Elizabeth was 14 years old when she was abducted from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah, on June 5, 2002. Her captor, Brian David Mitchell, held her captive for nearly a year before rescuing her in March 2003.
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Her father, Ed Smart, said in an interview with CBS Morning that they were always questioning where Elizabeth was and what she was doing. “The worst part of it is not knowing,” he added.
He mentioned in the interview with CBS that the community support was a great help during their search for Elizabeth. Ed said, “It brings us a lot of hope that … with this effort by everyone and of course the media has played a huge role.”
He added, “We thought if everybody was out there looking, we were going to find her, and of course we hope the same for Nancy.”
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The case sparked national coverage, two books from her family members, and a show based on her abduction. This later led Elizabeth to become an activist in Child Protection and Amber Alert.
Since her rescue, she has become an advocate for issues related to missing persons, victims of sexual abuse, trauma recovery and child protection.
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Ed calls Nancy Guthrie’s abduction “surreal.”When asked about Nancy’s disappearance, Ed told CBS, “There’s something going on that’s so surreal that you just can’t believe, you know, it’s happening, especially to an older woman.”
He emphasized that the family is the first person of interest in such cases. “Over time you learn that the family, unfortunately, is the first area law enforcement has to check and clear,” he said.
“It’s horrible and it’s so hard to deal with on top of your daughter, your family member being gone,” she added.
Ed advises Guthrie’s family to talk to their mother, Nancy, and the person who possibly kidnapped him through videos on social media.
Savannah Guthrie and her family released such a video Wednesday, urging potential kidnappers to contact them with proof that Nancy is alive.