Overview of Shock New Details About Guthrie Kidnapping, and Don Lemon's Absurd Kimmel Appearance (Ep. 1244)
This episode of The Megyn Kelly Show (SiriusXM) covers two major stories: new, worrying investigative details about the reported disappearance/possible abduction of Nancy Guthrie (Savannah Guthrie’s mother), and debate over Don Lemon’s indictment after his confrontation at a Minnesota church and subsequent high-profile media appearances. Guests include former FBI profiler Jim Fitzgerald and Las Vegas Metro Lieutenant Randy Sutton (on the Guthrie case), and National Review’s Rich Lowry and Charles C.W. Cooke (on the Don Lemon matter). The show also touches on judicial rulings on immigration/TPS, celebrity culture moments (Billie Eilish, Jack Antonoff), and previews a forthcoming interview with Vice President J.D. Vance.
The Nancy (Guthrie) Case — What the show reported
Latest reported facts and timeline
- Disappearance: Reported to have occurred overnight Saturday into Sunday; local posts list “last seen” as January 31 (per a White House X post excerpted in the show).
- Investigative lead: Multiple outlets reported blood inside the Arizona home and a trail of blood leading from inside the house out toward the driveway. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos would not fully confirm all public reports but confirmed some DNA testing returned Nancy Guthrie’s profile only.
- Apple Watch/pacemaker data: Reports (Daily Mail/Fox-cited sources) say Nancy’s pacemaker stopped syncing with her Apple Watch around 2:00 a.m. Sunday — investigators are treating this as a potentially useful time stamp (reported, not officially confirmed by sheriff).
- Medical urgency: Sheriff warned that the missing woman requires medication that, if not given within ~24 hours, could be fatal.
- Press conference: Local authorities expected to speak at 1:30 p.m. ET (as noted in the program).
Forensic & investigative actions described
- Agencies involved: Local sheriff’s office, homicide unit, FBI involvement (forensics & task force cooperation), Border Patrol and state police likely assisting.
- Search resources deployed: search-and-rescue teams, foot searches, drones, helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, forward-looking infrared (FLIR) imaging, cadaver and tracking dogs.
- Evidence collection and testing: DNA swabs submitted to labs; additional items submitted and awaiting results. Ring/doorbell camera reportedly removed by the time investigators arrived (report from Daily Mail).
- Technology & data avenues: phone records and carrier tower triangulation, cloud/video provider data, license-plate readers, neighborhood and highway camera sweeps.
Expert analysis and hypotheses (Fitzgerald, Sutton)
- Victimology: Nancy Guthrie is elderly, mobility-limited (cannot walk more than ~50 yards, uses a cane) and on vital meds — suggests she was taken rather than left of her own volition.
- Crime characterization: Investigators treating it as a crime scene; presence of droplets (not a pool) of blood could indicate non-fatal injury used to control/coerce.
- Likely planning: Panelists think the abduction appears planned (surveillance, vehicle use, possibly multiple perpetrators). The property’s remoteness and lack of streetlights make long-distance walking unlikely; a vehicle would be necessary.
- DNA prospects: So far DNA from blood has reportedly matched the victim only; touch DNA, other forensic leads, and DNA databases may or may not yield suspect matches (limitations noted for non-U.S. persons).
- Possible motives: Kidnapping for ransom (no public ransom reported yet — sheriff said none on the record), targeted because of Savannah Guthrie’s profile, or other motives (revenge, sexual crime) — all remain speculative.
- Urgency: Time-critical because of the victim’s health needs and age; panel urged anyone with information to contact authorities immediately.
Public-facing messaging & media notes
- Sheriff’s communication: Panelists described the sheriff’s messaging as inconsistent across outlets; he has been very visible in media interviews and warned that time is critical.
- Family plea: Savannah Guthrie posted an Instagram appeal asking for prayers and help, urging that “We need you — bring her home.”
- Public ask from show: Calls to action—anyone with potentially relevant information should call 911.
Don Lemon / Church Incident — Key points discussed
What happened (as discussed on the show)
- Event: Don Lemon joined/participated in a protest action inside a Minnesota church (protesters opposing ICE actions), was asked by the pastor to leave, did not comply promptly, and continued to film/interview inside the space for several minutes.
- Legal development: A federal indictment was filed under the FACE (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances)/related civil-rights statutes protecting places of worship from intimidation and interference. Debate over the appropriateness of indictment followed.
Legal and editorial perspectives (Rich Lowry, Charles C.W. Cooke)
- First Amendment does not confer blanket immunity: Panelists argued that "being a journalist" or invoking the First Amendment does not excuse criminal conduct or interference with others’ rights. The First Amendment protects speech broadly, but it does not give license to trespass or to violate others’ First Amendment-protected worship rights.
- FACE Act rationale: Federal intervention is intended when local authorities fail to protect targeted groups; the act is used to protect worshippers when local response is inadequate.
- Facts in dispute: Panelists stressed footage shows the pastor explicitly asking Lemon and protesters to leave; Lemon continued to solicit interviews inside and later downplayed the incident publicly. They predicted jury outcomes could be close — defenses are available — but called Lemon’s behavior indefensible as a matter of civic norms.
- Public reactions: Some media personalities (e.g., Ana Navarro, The View panelists) presented the indictment as politically motivated; Lowry and Cooke disputed that framing.
Civil remedies & consequences
- Civil suits: Panelists suggested parishioners (especially those who claim physical injury or serious emotional trauma) could bring civil suits (intentional infliction of emotional distress, battery/trespass consequences) against protesters and prominent participants like Don Lemon.
- Enforcement consistency: Discussion included comparisons to other high-profile prosecutions and the principle that public status does not make someone immune from the law.
Other news items discussed (brief)
- Judge blocks revocation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians: Megyn and guests critiqued a federal judge’s ruling blocking the Trump administration from ending TPS for Haitians, framing it as judicial overreach and arguing the decision raises questions of separations of power and precedent.
- Billie Eilish comment and Tongva tribe: Eilish’s “no one is illegal on stolen land” comment at the Grammys drew a Tongva tribal response noting she hadn’t contacted the tribe — panelists discussed the rhetorical and political implications.
- Celebrity gesture notes: Jack Antonoff and others wore symbolic pins at the Grammys; hosts mocked performative activism and celebrity groupthink.
- Preview: Megyn Kelly announced an upcoming interview with Vice President J.D. Vance.
Notable quotes from the episode
- Sheriff Chris Nanos (paraphrased/quoted in show): “Just call us. Let her go.” — direct plea to anyone holding Nancy Guthrie.
- Savannah Guthrie (Instagram excerpt): “We believe in prayer... We need you. Bring her home.”
- Panel consensus on Don Lemon: “The First Amendment is not a blanket shield for criminal behavior; being a journalist doesn’t make you immune.”
Key takeaways
- The Guthrie disappearance is being investigated as a likely abduction with time-sensitive medical concerns; forensic leads (DNA, Apple Watch/pacemaker sync, cameras, cell towers) are being pursued but no public suspect or ransom has been confirmed.
- Investigators have mobilized significant resources (local and federal); neighbors, home staff, and recent visitors will be scrutinized; security/camera data and cell-tower records are crucial.
- Don Lemon’s indictment raises complex First Amendment and civil-rights questions; commentators on the show argued that the act of filming/participating in a disruptive protest inside a church after being asked to leave exposed him to prosecution and civil liability.
- Broader themes: media responsibility, how public figures are investigated and prosecuted, and the limits of protest rights when they infringe on others’ protected activities (worship).
What listeners/reporters can do (action items)
- If you have any information about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance: call 911 or contact local authorities immediately — don’t hold back tips even if you think they are minor.
- If you possess any surveillance video, recordings, or neighbor/vehicle sightings from the area/time window around late Saturday night–early Sunday morning (roughly 2 a.m.), preserve the files and contact law enforcement.
- For journalists/commentators: distinguish between opinion and verified facts; avoid speculation that could hinder an active investigation.
- For the public: the show’s experts urged restraint from spreading unverified rumors and recommended cooperating with authorities rather than taking action independently.
Bottom line
This episode combined a high-priority, time-sensitive criminal investigation (Nancy Guthrie) with heated media-legal debate (Don Lemon), offering forensic, procedural, and constitutional perspectives. The Guthrie case remains urgent and unresolved at the time of the broadcast; authorities and forensic specialists are actively pursuing multiple technical leads. The Don Lemon discussion centered on legal limits of protest and the misconception that press status equals immunity from prosecution.