Former FBI Agent Slams Feds on Fox News for Low Reward Amount in Nancy Guthrie Case

Retired G-man James Gagliano took a swipe at the federal government on Fox News on Friday for failing to raise the reward for information in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, even after the FBI doubled it to $100,000.

As the heavily scrutinized search for the mother of Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie hits Day 13, Gagliano appeared on Fox & Friends several times on Friday morning to provide analysis on the head-scratching case that has so far led to no arrests.

When asked about the reward — which was doubled to $100,000 on Thursday — by co-host Ainsley Earhardt, Gagliano questioned why the federal government couldn’t open up its wallet a little more, pointing to the historic Lindbergh baby kidnapping case as an example.

Gagliano said the amount should be raised to at least $250,000 because “many people would sell their own mother out for a quarter of a million dollars.”

He added: “In that [Lindbergh] case, the state of new Jersey put up a $25,000 reward,” he said. “The Lindbergh family added 50,000, a total of $75,000 reward. 94 years ago. $75,000 is the equivalent in today’s dollars of $1.8 million. I think the reward money needs to be raised.

Read the exchange below:

AINSLEY EARHARDT: James, you have been talking about the reward, saying you didn’t think that $50,000 was enough. They just under it to $100,000. What’s your reaction?

JAMES GAGLIANO: So, Ainsley, initially, when this case first happened, right? They put out a reward release of $2,500. They rapidly moved that up to $50,000. And, to your point, on Thursday, $100,000 was the high point of the money for reward. I got a phone call from Hoover-era agent who told me, “James, this is insane we got to move the reward money up to $250,000, a quarter of a million dollars, and why is that? Because many people would sell their own mother out for a quarter of a million dollars. I will wrap it up with this. Go back to 1932, again, the Lindbergh baby kidnapping. In that case, the state of new Jersey put up a $25,000 reward. The Lindbergh family added 50,000, a total of $75,000 reward. 94 years ago. $75,000 is the equivalent in today’s dollars of $1.8 million. I think the reward money needs to be raised.

EARHARDT: Oh, again. Who pays this money? The FBI or the family?

GAGLIANO: So there is usually a pot of money in DOJ that is used for things like this. But, again, to my point about the Lindbergh family kidnapping, the family put up part of the money as well.

Guthrie, 84, was reported missing on Feb. 1 from her home in Tucson, Arizona. Doorbell cam footage released by authorities shows a suspect at Guthrie’s front door wearing dark clothing, gloves, and a backpack.

The suspect is described as a man between 5’9″ and 5’10” with an Ozark Trail backpack that is only available at Walmart, Fox News reported.

Several ransom notes with a series of deadlines, which have since passed, were received by TMZ and other media outlets. At least one of the notes reportedly included details about Guthrie’s home and what she was wearing when she disappeared.

Watch above via Fox News.

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