Elizabeth Smart Believes Nancy Guthrie Could Still Be Alive After Three Months

Since Nancy Guthrie was taken from her home in the middle of the night more than three months ago, a lot of experts have been commenting on the investigation. While those perspectives are important, a former kidnapping survivor has now stepped forward and offered her own expertise. That courageous figure has reflected on her own experience to comment that Savannah Guthrie's mother could still be alive.

Why She Believes There Is Still Hope

On May 5, 2026, Elizabeth Smart appeared on CNN's Erin Burnett OutFront. When speaking with the show's host, Erin Burnett, she was asked whether she believes Nancy Guthrie could still be alive. Without missing a beat, Smart positively affirmed that she thinks that Guthrie could be a survivor. "Absolutely. Absolutely. She could absolutely still be alive."

Smart went on to explain that her belief that Nancy could return home wasn't based on blind optimism. Instead, she pointed to the fact that people have been missing for far longer than Nancy has been gone and have still been recovered alive.

"I mean, there are cases that span many more years than mine does, and they came back alive. I mean, we're talking years and years. So she absolutely could still be alive. I mean, of course, there is the alternative, but until we know, we have to keep looking. She deserves either way to be brought home."

Elizabeth Smart says she thinks Nancy Guthrie could "absolutely still be alive" three months after her disappearance and urges authorities to keep searching. More tonight on OutFront at 7p ET/4p PT. pic.twitter.com/B91rJoMnYf

— Erin Burnett OutFront (@OutFrontCNN) May 5, 2026

Smart herself is an example of a kidnapping victim who was gone far longer than Nancy Guthrie has been missing and who still emerged as a survivor. She was taken from her room during the night of June 5, 2002. After her case became a media obsession in a very similar way to the Guthrie disappearance, she was missing for nine months. During that time, many observers came to believe that she would never return home. Then, a member of the public spotted her captors walking down a street, reported the sighting, and Smart was recovered.

Related: Nancy Guthrie Update: Elizabeth Smart's Father Makes Powerful Statement on the Case

Since returning home, Smart has spent much of her time and energy helping other survivors of kidnapping and sexual abuse. She founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, which provides self-defense training, education, trauma support, therapy assistance, and resources to survivors and families. She has also become a public speaker and the author of two memoirs, 2013's My Story and 2018's Where There's Hope. Most recently, she garnered headlines for becoming a competitive bodybuilder.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available 24 hours a day through RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 8:59 AM.