Investigators in the disappearance of the mother of Savannah Guthrie are now examining new eyewitness accounts that could significantly tighten the focus of the case.
According to multiple sources familiar with the investigation, witnesses reported seeing Nancy’s son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, carrying an unidentified object as he entered his vehicle and drove away on the same night Nancy Guthrie was last seen alive.
Law enforcement officials have not disclosed what the item was, but sources say the detail is being treated as “potentially critical” given the narrow window of time in which Nancy disappeared.
“It Was Noticeable”
Witnesses described the moment as brief but unsettling.
One individual told investigators that Cioni appeared to be holding something bulky enough to require both hands, though visibility was limited due to lighting conditions and distance.
“It wasn’t just keys or a bag you’d sling over your shoulder,” a source close to the inquiry said, summarizing witness statements. “It was noticeable enough that more than one person remembered it later.”
At the time, the sighting did not raise immediate alarms. Only after Nancy was reported missing did witnesses come forward, realizing the timing may not have been coincidental.
Timing Under the Microscope
Investigators are now working to reconstruct Cioni’s movements during the critical hours surrounding Nancy’s disappearance, including:
the exact time he left the residence
the direction he drove
whether surveillance cameras captured his vehicle
and whether the item described by witnesses can be accounted for
Police have not said whether the object could be connected to the ransom-style letter identified earlier in the investigation, but sources confirm the two developments are now being analyzed together.
No Charges — But Rising Pressure
Authorities stress that Tommaso Cioni has not been charged with any crime, and that the investigation remains active and fluid. However, the new witness accounts are said to have “raised the urgency level” inside the task force.
“This is the first time we have independent observations placing him in motion with something unexplained at a moment that matters,” one official said. “That changes how we proceed.”
Family Tensions Resurface
The revelation has reportedly intensified strain within the extended family, already shaken by the identification of the ransom letter’s author. Sources say investigators are increasingly examining whether long-simmering personal or financial disputes could have escalated in the days before Nancy vanished.
For now, police continue to urge anyone who may have seen Tommaso Cioni’s vehicle that night — or noticed unusual activity near the home — to come forward.
As one investigator put it:
“People don’t remember details until they realize they matter. Now, they matter.”
