Elizabeth Smart’s father, Ed Smart, spoke out Feb. 5 on Fox News regarding the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of “Today” host Savannah Guthrie.
Elizabeth was abducted in 2002 from her own bed in the middle of the night. Nancy is believed to have been abducted in a similar manner and has not been seen or heard from since Saturday night. Drawing from his own family’s traumatic experience, Ed Smart shared perspective and hope, emphasizing that despite enduring nine months of uncertainty, his daughter ultimately returned home.
Ed commented on the video Savannah Guthrie and her siblings released Feb. 4 on Instagram. He told Fox News that Nancy’s loved ones want to “keep the information flowing” and provide hope.
“They’re trying to do everything they possibly can to bring her home,” he said, offering advice to the Guthrie family.
“I think talking directly to those who have taken her, the abductors, is crucially important,” Ed said, noting that this approach can signal a willingness to “comply” and “resolve this.” He also highlighted the importance of community support, recalling the public search for Elizabeth. “We had a huge search by the public … We had a website set up … that was huge in helping bring tips and more information in.”
Reflecting on the current case, Ed emphasized that social media plays a key role in spreading messages widely.
When asked whether Nancy might have heard her children’s video message, Ed noted, “Brian Mitchell basically determined how much information got to Elizabeth. So it’s hard to know whether Nancy can hear or not, but it’s important to make that effort and do it. Nothing can be more important.”
Ed also praised law enforcement efforts: “It seems like the law enforcement is doing a very good job at trying to bring this to a close.”
Regarding the process of clearing family members as part of an investigation, he said, “You know, it went on for quite a while. Clearing the family is crucial. They’re generally the first place law enforcement looks, so cooperating to bring that to a close quickly allows authorities to move onto other potential parts of the investigation.”
At a press conference Feb. 5, Pima County Sheriff’s Department Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed that authorities had no suspects or persons of interest at that time.
“People are sleep-deprived and doing the best they can, but when you don’t find your loved one, it’s really difficult to try and stay positive,” Ed said, showing compassion for the Guthrie family. “But I think until you get that message otherwise, you have to have faith and hope that your loved one will come home. I hope and pray that Nancy is found soon and brought back home for them.”