The Answer to if Savannah Guthrie Ever ‘Believed’ Her Brother-in-Law Had ‘Anything to Do’ with Her Mom’s Abduction Finally Revealed as Sources Claim She’s ‘Livid’
When Savannah Guthrie’s mom first disappeared, the speculation around what could have happened to her reached fever pitch. And with so little real information, people started pointing fingers at absolutely everyone as they theorized about what could have happened. And one of the people who got accused very quickly was Savannah’s brother-in-law, Tommaso Cioni.
Police quickly dismissed the accusations, making it clear no one in the family was involved in the disappearance. But that doesn’t take away the fact that speculation surrounded Cioni and his wife Annie for a while.
Related: Who are Savannah Guthrie’s siblings?
And according to Guthrie’s former NBC colleague Megyn Kelly, Savannah Guthrie was “livid” after journalist Ashleigh Banfield tied Cioni to the kidnapping. Reports after the fact even indicated the family was considering a lawsuit against Banfield, who doubled down on her theory even after police said it wasn’t the case.
“I have not been able to confirm that the Guthrie family wants to sue Ashleigh Banfield, but I have confirmed that Savannah is livid about that report and definitely does not suspect her or her brother-in-law,” Kelly said during an episode of SiriusXM’s “The Megyn Kelly Show” last week.
“Can you blame her? I mean, of course, she loves her sister, I’m sure she loves her brother-in-law, and I’m sure she genuinely doesn’t believe they had anything to do with it.”
Annie Guthrie and her husband, Tommaso, were the last two people to see Nancy Guthrie alive, after having dinner with her the night she disappeared.
“To be clear … the Guthrie family — to include all siblings and spouses — has been cleared as possible suspects,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said in a statement on Feb. 16. “The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are victims in this case.”
Nanos also said, “To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel,” and added, “The Guthrie family are victims plain and simple. Please, I’m begging you, the media to honor your profession and report with some sense of compassion and professionalism.”
TV host Ashleigh Banfield claimed on her Drop Dead Serious podcast that investigators had seized and impounded a car belonging to Savannah’s sister, Annie Guthrie, claiming it had a “connection” to Cioni and suggested he was a person of interest in the investigation. This came just days after the disappearance.
Rob Shuter had previously reported that the family was very upset. “Tommaso deserves a public apology,” one family insider told the journalist. “His name was dragged through the mud for absolutely no reason.”
“People took proximity and turned it into conspiracy,” a media source added. “That’s not journalism. That’s dangerous.” And that’s when the reports of a possible lawsuit started.
“Clearing someone quietly doesn’t undo loud damage,” an insider told Shuter. “If you questioned him publicly, you should clear him publicly. Legal action looms.”
For now, the family remains focused on the investigation, and any possible lawsuit might just have to wait. The reward for information about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is up to $1 million.
