This is Not Nancy Guthrie’s Kidnapper: The Unofficial Sketch

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The Release of a sketch of a man thought to be the kidnapper of Nancy Guthrie has gone viral for all the wrong reasons. The sketch is not from an official police source and only muddies the waters of the unsolved case. You can read a summary of the case here.

The Baseless Sketch Artist

Lois Gibson, previously employed by the Houston Police Department, created the sketch of the suspect. She has no ties to the case, although she is considered to be a forensic artist from Texas. It’s important to note that Gibson is no more than a civilian. Her sketch is unofficial and based on a masked suspect.

Gibson released her drawing after reviewing surveillance of a masked person on a doorbell camera outside of Guthrie’s home. Gibson’s drawing is a complete fabrication of her mind and a guess on what’s under the mask. The person wore a ski mask that showed just his eyes and mouth. Beyond that, the person’s face is fully covered.

Additionally, Gibson has called her work “brave guesses” regarding the suspect’s features. She also admitted, “I’ve gotten hugely criticized by people in my field… and I knew I would.”

Recap of the Guthrie Case

Nancy Guthrie, 84 years old, is believed to have been kidnapped on February 1. Police think Guthrie, the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, was taken from her Arizona home. There has been at least one person arrested for attempting to manipulate the family with fake ransom demands. No suspect has been identified in the actual kidnapping. The FBI is also offering a $100,000 reward for the safe return of Nancy Guthrie. Read a summary of the case here for the real details and timeline.

The Takeaway

Lois Gibson, a forensic artist, released the unofficial sketch of Nancy Guthrie’s suspected kidnapper. Her sketch is an imagined idea of what a masked person might look like without the mask. It is a hopeful guess at best and irresponsible at worst. Gibson has no official ties to the case. Her sketch is a distraction that causes misinformation. Inform others.

Jermaine Reed, MFA is an educator and thought leader. FOLLOW him for more real news.