This month started off on quite the shocking note with the news of the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother to Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie: The 84-year-old, who was last seen on the evening of January 31, remains missing following her reported abduction from her Tucson, Arizona home.
In the days since, Guthrie has understandably stepped down from her planned coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics to be with her family and aid with the search (the anchor's Olympics replacement has officially been announced), with the TV star's Today family hosting a prayer vigil for her mother's safe return. There have also been swirling reports connected to the ongoing case, from alleged ransom notes to potential involvement from Guthrie's own family members.
In the midst of those rumors and reveals is Ashleigh Banfield, a news personality who added to the media storm with her own shocking claims about the elder Guthrie's whereabouts. So who is Ashleigh Banfield? Here's everything we know about her and what she said about the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case.
?SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox?
Ashleigh Banfield is a Canadian-American journalist and television host best-known for her work on the NewsNation network — especially her nightly news program Banfield, which ran on the channel from March 1, 2021, through January 16, 2026 — as well as her hosting gigs on CNN programs such as Legal View with Ashleigh Banfield and Early Start.
Across her television work, the 58-year-old Winnipeg native has specialized in legal and crime-focused news, most recently via her true-crime podcast Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield. "This is the podcast where I take you on a journey through mystery and injustice...and dive deep into critical clues, with an irreverent style that I don’t share on TV!" the host said of the project.
Where has Ashleigh Banfield worked?
Along with her aforementioned series, Banfield has worked for several major television networks as a journalist and TV host, including CNN, MSNBC, ABC News, HLN and Court TV (now known as TruTV). She most recently worked for NewsNation. Her career coverage has spanned on-the-ground reporting for global events, from the September 11 attacks to the War on Terror, to high-profile legal trials.
What is Ashleigh Banfield doing now?
Banfield's NewsNation primetime show, the fittingly titled Banfield, ended its run in January 2026 reportedly due to its host wanting to have more time to focus on her Drop Dead Serious podcast and digital content. She still remains a contributor to the network for trials and investigations.
The media personality launched Drop Dead Serious in January 2025; she puts out new episodes weekly.
Journalist Ashleigh Banfield attends CNN Heroes 2017 at the American Museum of Natural History on December 17, 2017 in New York CityMichael Loccisano/Getty Images
No, despite her interest in and experience covering legal cases, Ashleigh Banfield does not have a law degree. Rather, she holds a bachelor's degree in political science and French from Queen's University in Ontario, having graduated in 1988. She did, however, earn a Journalism Law School fellowship from Loyola Law School in California in 2009.
Is Ashleigh Banfield married?
Yes, Ashleigh Banfield is currently married to sales executive Chris Haynor; after three years together, the couple wed on December 29, 2017 — Banfield's 50th birthday — at the Hermitage Club ski lodge in Wilmington, Vermont. Banfield was previously married to real estate financier Howard Gould from 2004 to 2011.
The true-crime reporter shares two sons, Jay Fischer and Ridley, with her ex-husband Howard Gould. Per PEOPLE, Banfield previously detailed how motherhood changed her life following the birth of her first son: "Fischer is magic. No amount of traipsing through Baghdad or Afghanistan can give me what he gives me.
What cases has Ashleigh Banfield cracked?
Seeing as how Banfield isn't law enforcement, she hasn't "cracked" cases per se, but she has covered several extensively. Along with the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie this year, some recent investigations have included that of "doomsday mom" Elleshia Anne Seymour, the murder of Ohio couple Monique and Spencer Tepe, and the double murder plot of Virginia IRS agent Brendan Banfield (no relation).
Australian-born presenter, Savannah Guthrie poses alongside her mother Nancy Guthrie during a production break whilst hosting NBC's "Today Show" live from Australia at Sydney Opera House on May 4, 2015 in Sydney, Australia.Don Arnold/WireImage
What did Ashleigh Banfield say about Nancy Guthrie?
It was on the Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield podcast that the veteran journalist made controversial claims about Nancy Guthrie's disappearance. On February 3, Banfield weighed in on the disturbing case and reported that a high-level source in law enforcement told her that Tommaso Cioni, husband of Nancy Guthrie's daughter Annie Guthrie and brother-in-law of Savannah Guthrie, was involved in Nancy's kidnapping.
“There is some connection to Annie Guthrie’s car and Nancy Guthrie’s son-in-law, that would be Annie’s husband, Tommaso Cioni, age 50, from Tucson, Arizona, married to Annie P. Guthrie, Savannah’s sister,” Banfield explained. “And, my law enforcement source tells me that Tommaso Cioni is the prime suspect in this case.”
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department pushed back on Banfield's reporting, saying that investigators had not yet identified a suspect or person of interest in the case. However, Banfield doubled down on her podcast claims, appearing on The Ryan Gorman Show podcast on Wednesday, February 4 to discuss her "exclusive reporting" on the case. "I know that the sheriff is pushing back today and they haven't named publicly a person of interest. But that doesn't mean that within the departments, all of the departments that are working on this, that that's not who they may be looking at this time," she explained.
The journalist did add that police are continuing to investigate potential suspects and leads before making any arrest. "So just the fact that somebody has targeted or thinks someone may be a prime suspect does not mean there's going to be an arrest that's imminent," she said.
Next: Savannah Guthrie’s Sister Annie & Brother-in-Law Tommaso Cioni Spotted for First Time Since Mom Nancy’s Abduction
Hence then, the article about who is ashleigh banfield meet the journalist shaking up the savannah guthrie kidnapping case was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Who Is Ashleigh Banfield? Meet the Journalist Shaking Up the Savannah Guthrie Kidnapping Case )
Also on site :
- What it takes to retire comfortably in America: Nearly $1.5 million, Northwestern Mutual says
- Numbrix 9 - April 3
- Europe’s cyber agency blames hacking gangs for massive data breach and leak