Nancy Guthrie’s Missing Persons Case Could Be Solved with Help from a Piece of Medical Equipment, Expert Reveals

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The search for Nancy Guthrie continues as law enforcement tirelessly investigates her disappearance and reported abduction. It has been almost three weeks since Guthrie, the mother of “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing on February 1. Now, an expert suggests that the pacemaker she uses may help locate her. 

Nancy Guthrie’s Pacemaker Could Help Locate Her 

In an interview with People, Dr. Laurence Epstein, system director of electrophysiology for Northwell Health and Professor of Cardiology at Hofstra Medical School, discussed how the technology in pacemakers, such as the one 84-year-old Guthrie has, can transmit information that could be used to locate her whereabouts.

People report that authorities are using a “signal sniffer” to detect the Bluetooth signal, but Dr. Epstein says, “A pacemaker is not a GPS chip.” However, he does explain how it can be used in the case. Pacemakers can connect to an external device, and in Guthrie’s case, she had hers connected to her phone. Dr. Epstein explains that when the device “is no longer in proximity of the pacemaker for more than 24 hours, it’s no longer connected.” It is no longer connected to Guthrie’s phone, and has not been since her disappearance on February 1, but “it doesn’t need that connection to function,” Dr. Epstein said.

“This remote monitoring technology has really been an important advance,” Dr. Epstein said. “Instead of waiting three months to find out there was a problem with the wire, we know within 24 hours, or instead of waiting three months to find out somebody has atrial fibrillation, and then you’ll find out because they had a stroke, we can find out earlier and intervene. It’s such a safety issue, and it’s so much better for patients.”

Breakthrough in Nancy Guthrie Case 

There have been some leads in the Guthrie case, most notably video footage that was shared by the FBI and widely circulated by the media. It shows a masked man at the door of Guthrie’s home. The footage, which is filmed by a doorcam, shows an individual who appears to be a man wearing a ski mask and latex gloves. They are also carrying a large backpack and have a visible gun holstered at their waist. 

Guthrie’s family and friends have shared the footage and asked the public for help identifying the person. There has also been some doubt about the video and whether it was staged, due to the individual’s behavior. Instead of covering the camera right away, he goes into the garden and returns with shrubbery. In an interview with Katie Couric for her “Katie Couric Media Substack Live,” retired FBI agent Kristy Kottis said it “felt like a staged video” to her.