President Trump on Monday called for those responsible for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance to return her unharmed or face the death penalty.
Mr. Trump said he would instruct the Justice Department to seek the death penalty if Ms. Guthrie, the mother of NBC “Today” host Savannah Guthrie, is killed.
In an interview with the New York Post, Mr. Trump called for “very, very severe – the most severe” federal consequences if Ms. Guthrie is found dead. She was abducted from her home outside Tucson, Arizona, on Feb. 1.
When asked if he would direct the Justice Department to pursue the death penalty for the kidnappers, Mr. Trump responded, “The most, yeah – that’s true.”
Earlier Monday, Mr. Trump expressed optimism that the search for Ms. Guthrie, now entering its third week, will end in “a positive result.”
In a Truth Social post, Mr. Trump praised former FBI Agent Nicole Parker’s explanation of the investigation on Fox News and acknowledged the hard work of officials probing the case.
“Nicole Parker, formerly of the FBI, is doing a great job explaining, on FoxNews, the Nancy Guthrie investigation. Others also, working so hard, with such expertise and knowledge. Hopefully there will be a positive result,” Mr. Trump wrote.
Mr. Trump on Friday commented on why the FBI has not taken over as the lead agency investigating the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie nearly two weeks since she vanished.
No suspects or persons of interest have been publicly named by authorities 15 days later.
Mr. Trump has been outspoken about the investigation, telling reporters at the White House on Friday that the Pima County Sheriff’s Department remains the lead on the investigation, instead of the FBI.
“They didn’t want to let go of it, which is fine. It’s up to them. It’s really up to the communities,” Mr. Trump said about the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. “But ultimately, when the FBI got involved, I think, you know, progress has been made.”
FBI Director Kash Patel has been on the ground in Arizona, and the Trump administration has offered local authorities the “full resources” of the federal government.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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