Savannah Guthrie's video addressing Nancy Guthrie's alleged abductors has the Internet buzzing.
Netizens Find Unsettling Connection Between Savannah Guthrie's Plea and 'The Silence of the Lambs' — Ex-FBI Agent Weighs In
March 24 2026, Published 1:13 p.m. ET
Nearly two months have passed since Nancy Guthrie was reported missing by her family. While the authorities have been struggling to find her whereabouts, the 84-year-old’s daughter and Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie has tried to leverage social media to look for leads that might help her track down her mother.
Savannah and her two siblings posted a video message on social media days after Nancy’s disappearance. Now, a specific detail from that video has caught the attention of several social media users.
‘Talk To Her, And You'll See’
Nancy was last seen on the night of January 31, 2026, near her Tucson, Arizona residence. Authorities have stated that several pieces of evidence point to the fact that she was abducted. Though there have been speculations that the suspects are within the reach of police officials, no arrest has been made so far.
At such a time, social media users have noticed a strange detail from the video that Savannah and her two siblings shared on Instagram following Nancy’s disappearance.
Referring to Nancy, Savannah said in the Instagram video, “She is full of kindness and knowledge. Talk to her and you'll see,” and broke down in tears. When the video was posted, netizens did not think much of it.
An X post highlighting the similarities between Savannah Guthrie's statement and a qoute from the film 'The Silence of the Lambs.'
However, in a now viral X video, a user pointed out that Savannah’s statement was a quote from Anthony Hopkins’ The Silence of the Lambs. In the film, Senator Ruth Martin, played by Diane Baker, speaks about her missing daughter and says, “Catherine is very gentle and kind. Talk to her, and you'll see.”
Many social media users found this statement to be eerily similar to that uttered by Savannah in her Instagram video. Netizens claimed that the already tense situation, paired with a quote from an unsettling crime film, felt quite uneasy to them.
Nancy has been missing for 51 days, and authorities fear for her health because she has several medical issues.
Savannah’s Words Were Meant To Humanize Nancy: Ex-FBI Agent
According to many, Savannah’s statement may not be completely unintended. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) official website mentions that humanizing a victim is a psychological tactic to evoke empathy from a kidnapper.
During an interview with the New York Post, former FBI special agent Lance Leising stated that Savannah’s words were meant to humanize Nancy to her abductors, and called it a standard procedure. Leising remarked, “That victim is a commodity, not a person, to the captors.”
The agent added that it is a “very standard tactic in their playbook, where they would try to make the victim appear human.” Leising said that a plea to the kidnapper would show that the feeling of empathy is powerful.