Elizabeth Smart has voiced her belief that Nancy Guthrie, who vanished from her Arizona residence over three months ago, might still be alive. In an interview with Erin Burnett on CNN, Smart drew parallels between her own abduction as a teenager and Guthrie's case. "She could absolutely still be alive," Smart asserted. Burnett highlighted Smart's own experience of being abducted in 2002 and later found alive after nine months. "When you were missing, everyone recognized your face, and there was widespread concern. Then, as months passed, people began to fear the worst. Yet you returned, and here you are," Burnett remarked during their discussion. She then inquired if Smart believed that Nancy Guthrie could still be alive despite the lengthy absence. "Absolutely. Absolutely," Smart responded. "There are cases that have lasted far longer than mine, and those individuals returned alive. We are talking about years. So she could definitely still be alive."

Smart continued, stating, "While there is a possibility of a tragic outcome, we must keep searching until we have answers." She emphasized that Nancy Guthrie "deserves to be brought home, regardless of the circumstances." Authorities have been actively searching for Nancy Guthrie since she was reported missing from her Arizona home on February 1. Investigators have indicated that they are treating the case as a suspected abduction. The situation has garnered national attention, particularly because Nancy is the mother of Savannah Guthrie, a co-host on NBC's Today show. Additionally, Kash Patel has criticized the way Arizona law enforcement has managed the investigation. Elizabeth Smart's own kidnapping remains one of the most recognized child abduction cases in the U.S. She was just 14 when she was taken from her home in Salt Lake City, Utah, in June 2002, and was held captive for nine months before being rescued. Her captors, Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee, were subsequently arrested and convicted. In the same CNN interview, Smart also discussed her recent journey into bodybuilding and how it connects to her past. "If my body hadn't supported me through every difficult day, I wouldn't be here today," she reflected. "It has been there for me through every challenge I faced, day after day."