Guthrie, who has been missing for over 100 days, was last seen on Jan. 31 outside her home in Tucson, Ariz.

JonBenét Ramsey’s father implores Nancy Guthrie’s family to ‘really scrutinize’ the police

Guthrie, who has been missing for over 100 days, was last seen on Jan. 31 outside her home in Tucson, Ariz.

By Marina Watts

Marina Watts

Marina Watts is a news writer for with seven years experience covering entertainment, pop culture and celebrity news. Her previous work appears in PEOPLE, Bustle and Newsweek.

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May 21, 2026 1:33 p.m. ET

John Ramsey in 2004, and 'Today' host Savannah Guthrie with mother Nancy in 2023. Credit:

Jeff Kowalsky/ZUMA Wire/Shutterstock; Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

- JonBenét Ramsey's father, John, has some words of wisdom to impart on the Guthrie family amid the investigation into Nancy's disappearance.

- JonBenét was found murdered in the basement of her family's home in 1996, and her case remains unsolved.

- Nancy Guthrie was last seen on Jan. 31 at her home in Tucson, Ariz. She has been missing for 100 days.

JonBenét Ramsey's father is offering advice to Nancy Guthrie's family.

John Ramsey shared what he's gleaned in his years working with the police on the case of his daughter's murder, in an interview with Emmy-winning journalist Brian Entin on Wednesday. He also said what the Guthrie family should do to take control of the missing persons case.

Entin compared the exposure the Ramsey family received following JonBenét's death, in 1996, to what the Guthrie family is currently going through.

"There's a lot that people talk about or you hear about here and there, but there's only a few where it's in the full-on mainstream," Entin began. "So, I'm just curious, what would you say to the Guthries?"

Ramsey's advice was to remain skeptical during the ongoing investigation.

"Don't assume the police are doing everything they can do," he said. "They may be, but don't assume that. Don't assume they they know what they're doing. They may, but don't assume that."**

John and Patsy Ramsey in Colorado in 1997.

Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via Getty

He also said to "really scrutinize what they're doing," citing DNA evidence as an example. "What's the status of the DNA? Do you have DNA that doesn't match anybody in the family? What are you doing with it?"

Ramsey compared working with the police to going to the hospital with an advocate. "Make sure the hospital and the nurses and the doctors are doing everything that can be done for the person you're advocating for," he said.

"Police departments at best are multipurpose agencies. They handle everything from traffic tickets to speeding tickets to serial murders. You can't do everything well. And it's imperative they bring in all the resources they can bring in to help," Ramsey continued.**

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Ramsey mentioned that his family was introduced to the Cold Case Foundation, which became a huge resource for them, and may be for the Guthries as well.

"You can't assume your local police department is good at everything. Just be sure they're bringing in all the resources that can be brought in. Look at the Cold Case Foundation," he said.

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Nancy, the mother of *Today** *show anchor Savannah Guthrie, was last seen on the evening of Jan. 31 after she was dropped off at her home in Tucson, Ariz. by family. She was reported missing after she didn't arrive to a friend's house for a virtual church service the following day.

A public information officer told * *on Feb. 2 that Pima County authorities believe "a crime has been committed."

"At this point, investigators believe she was taken from the home against her will, possibly in the middle of the night. Taken against her will includes possible kidnapping or abduction," they said.

On May 18, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who has been leading the investigation, told PEOPLE that he is no longer in contact with the Guthrie family and that they are speaking with other investigators working on the case.

Nancy Guthrie in January 2025.

Savannah Guthrie/Instagram

In the early hours of Dec. 26, 1996, JonBenét Ramsey, who made headlines for her participation in local beauty pageants, was reported missing. A ransom note asking for $118,000 in exchange for her safe return was found on the staircase of her home. At that time, only the 6-year-old's bedroom was cordoned off for preserving evidence.

Hours after she was reported missing, John and a friend were asked by authorities to check the basement, despite it being dismissed as a possible exit for a kidnapper. JonBenét's body was found and her father grabbed it and took it upstairs, compromising any evidence that might have been present.

Her cause of death was determined to be "asphyxia by strangulation associated with craniocerebral trauma."

There was long speculation that JonBenét's parents were behind her murder even after prosecutors didn't think there was sufficient evidence to charge them after a year of grand jury hearings. JonBenét's murder remains unsolved.

See Brian Entin's full conversation with John Ramsey below.

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