By JACKIE TAYLOR | February 11, 2026

Kidnappings

Gut-wrenching, torturous, just terrible – words that come to mind describing what the Guthrie family must be going through after the kidnapping of their mother, 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie 10 days ago.

I can’t imagine, and don’t ever want to find out, the feelings Savannah Guthrie, her sister and brother are feeling.

It’s been an interesting thing to watch, from the side of a spectator in middle-America. Pima County, Arizona law enforcement had the case from the beginning, then we’re finding out it took three days for the FBI to really be allowed in?...not sure. But apparently there was a rub between the two agencies. Not a good time to have a spat to determine who’s in charge.

Lately, every commentator with a microphone is speculating on what happened, why blood was found on the porch, if the poor lady is still alive and stating all family, friends, FedEx guy, etc. need to take a polygraph test.

Nancy Grace, mystery solver commentator, has been up-front and center giving her two-cents worth.

Whatever, no one knows anything except maybe law enforcement, who are holding their cards close to their chest, and the person(s) who kidnapped Guthrie.

So, who else went through this type of torture? Countryadventures.net outlined 13 of the most famous kidnappings in America starting with the oldest, “In 1874, four-year-old Charley Ross was abducted from his family’s front yard in Philadelphia, marking the first widely publicized kidnapping for ransom in the United States. The kidnappers demanded $20,000, an astronomical sum at the time, but Charley’s father, Christian Ross, struggled to meet the demands. Despite extensive efforts, Charley was never found, and the case remains unsolved, as detailed by the Historical Crime Detective.”

The story went on the say the police were involved in a shoot-out and one of the criminals confessed two years later to being a kidnapper.

Next, a story most of us hear about from time to time, “In 1932, the world was shocked when Charles Lindbergh Jr., the 20-month-old son of famous aviator Charles Lindbergh, was kidnapped from his family’s home in New Jersey. The kidnappers left a ransom note demanding $50,000. Despite paying the ransom, the Lindberghs’ hopes were shattered when their son’s body was discovered two months later.”

Many years later, “In 1974, Patty Hearst, the 19-year-old granddaughter of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), a radical left-wing group.”

That story got twisted as Hearst was arrested for bank robbery, working with the SLA group, and spent seven years in prison.

The next, “In 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah, by Brian David Mitchell and his accomplice, Wanda Barzee. For nine months, she was held captive, subjected to abuse, and forced to live under a new identity. Her rescue came when she was spotted in public by a passerby who recognized her from media reports.”

A story that culminated recently, “In 1991, 11-year-old Jaycee Dugard was kidnapped near her home in South Lake Tahoe, California, by Phillip and Nancy Garrido. She was held captive for 18 years in a concealed area behind the Garridos’ home. During her captivity, Jaycee gave birth to two daughters fathered by Phillip Garrido.”

Kidnap victim names that sparked movements in the nation include Adam Walsh-his parents created National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Polly Klaas- passage of “three strikes” laws aimed at repeat offenders, Amber Hagerman-led to the creation of Amber Alert, Steven Stayner, Etan Patz-National Missing Children’s Day, Carlina White-abducted at 19-days-old and started hospital security and vigilant record keeping, Jayme Closs and Shasta Groene round out the sad list.

The Guthrie’s are asking for prayer, and for the public to keep an eye out for anything that may be a lead; they now play the waiting game.

The family has said they will pay the $6 million ransom; now, they wait longer. Today’s high-tech frontier has added many more facets to the kidnapping – we pray the woman is safe and comes home unharmed.