The abduction of Nancy Guthrie has captured national attention for nearly two weeks.Authorities have said Guthrie was taken against her will. She’s been missing since Feb. 1, and authorities say she takes several medications, and there’s concern she could die without them.Sacramento State University Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Danielle Slakoff has studied why people become invested in certain crimes. She explained why this case has become so significant – citing several factors including Guthrie’s age, race and her connection as the mother of a high-profile media personality. She said a case like this can also make people feel scared — wondering if it could happen to Nancy, could it happen to someone they love? “I think there’s a lot of reasons why the Nancy Guthrie case would become so big. I think first and foremost is her daughter, Savannah, and the fact that she is a celebrity,” Slakoff said. “Savannah’s job is to literally meet you in your living room in the morning. And so, I think a lot of people feel that connection to Savannah and by extension, to Nancy. So, I think that’s one of the primary factors in this particular case.”She said other factors contributing to the case’s attention include striking images from surveillance footage and emotional videos from Guthrie’s family.“I think those videos have really cut through and have made it so that people can see very quickly that something very serious is going on and that they care about it,” she said. Slakoff highlighted that the case does not fit the typical pattern seen by criminologists.”Something happening to somebody in their eighties is very, very rare. Generally, in cases like this, it ends up being family violence. But right now, that does not appear to be the case, or it remains to be seen what the case is,” she said. The lack of answers has many people watching and hoping for a resolution. Slakoff emphasized that attention on cases of missing people is beneficial, as it increases the chance someone will come forward with information. She said all missing people are worthy of this level of attention.“In general, all eyes on missing people are a good thing. And so my view on it is that all missing people are worthy of this level of attention and need this level of attention,” Slakoff said.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

The abduction of Nancy Guthrie has captured national attention for nearly two weeks.

Authorities have said Guthrie was taken against her will. She’s been missing since Feb. 1, and authorities say she takes several medications, and there’s concern she could die without them.

Sacramento State University Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Danielle Slakoff has studied why people become invested in certain crimes.

She explained why this case has become so significant – citing several factors including Guthrie’s age, race and her connection as the mother of a high-profile media personality. She said a case like this can also make people feel scared — wondering if it could happen to Nancy, could it happen to someone they love?

“I think there’s a lot of reasons why the Nancy Guthrie case would become so big. I think first and foremost is her daughter, Savannah, and the fact that she is a celebrity,” Slakoff said. “Savannah’s job is to literally meet you in your living room in the morning. And so, I think a lot of people feel that connection to Savannah and by extension, to Nancy. So, I think that’s one of the primary factors in this particular case.”

She said other factors contributing to the case’s attention include striking images from surveillance footage and emotional videos from Guthrie’s family.

“I think those videos have really cut through and have made it so that people can see very quickly that something very serious is going on and that they care about it,” she said.

Slakoff highlighted that the case does not fit the typical pattern seen by criminologists.

“Something happening to somebody in their eighties is very, very rare. Generally, in cases like this, it ends up being family violence. But right now, that does not appear to be the case, or it remains to be seen what the case is,” she said.

The lack of answers has many people watching and hoping for a resolution.

Slakoff emphasized that attention on cases of missing people is beneficial, as it increases the chance someone will come forward with information. She said all missing people are worthy of this level of attention.

“In general, all eyes on missing people are a good thing. And so my view on it is that all missing people are worthy of this level of attention and need this level of attention,” Slakoff said.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel