Fresh developments in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie are reigniting controversy — after veteran journalist Ashleigh Banfield doubled down on claims that the missing woman’s son-in-law has been quietly treated as a prime suspect.
The renewed focus comes amid the emergence of new surveillance details and mounting questions surrounding smashed cameras, seized vehicles, and internal tensions within law enforcement.
What’s Being Claimed — And What Police Say
Banfield, a former CNN and NewsNation host, has publicly stood by her reporting that Tommaso Cioni, the husband of Nancy’s daughter Annie — and brother-in-law of Savannah Guthrie — was considered a “prime suspect” early in the investigation.
However, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department has firmly disputed that narrative, stating in a February 4 release that no suspect or person of interest has been officially identified, and warning against the spread of unverified claims.
Banfield: “My Source Has Not Backed Off”
Banfield first revealed the allegation on her Drop ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Serious podcast last week, citing a source who claimed police had seized a vehicle belonging to Annie Guthrie — allegedly linking it to her husband during the early stages of the case.
Cameras Smashed — Evidence Adds Weight
Banfield pointed to several developments she says now support her earlier reporting — including confirmation that Annie’s car was indeed towed and entered into evidence, and that multiple cameras at the home were damaged.
She cited a report from Fox News Digital, which revealed that small glᴀss fragments were discovered beneath the front-door camera at Nancy’s Tucson, Arizona home — suggesting the device was smashed rather than removed.
“If you can’t pull it off the bracket,” she explained, “you smash it.”
“Things Have тιԍнтened Up”
Banfield also shared a striking claim from her source: that internal concern within the Sheriff’s Department reportedly increased after her report aired, with fears of retaliation following the leak.
“If it wasn’t true,” she said, “there wouldn’t be any worry.”
By the third day, Banfield said her source delivered a blunt message:
“When they take sH๏τs at you, you’re standing on the target.”
Case Still Unresolved — Questions Multiply
Despite official denials, Banfield insists nothing in her reporting has changed, and that developments since have only intensified scrutiny around the early investigative focus.
As law enforcement continues to urge caution and the family waits for answers, the case remains unresolved — caught between official statements, journalistic sources, and a growing pile of unsettling details.
And with new footage now under review, one question refuses to go away:
What did investigators see in those first critical hours — and why does it still matter now?
