Who is Coral Michelle Smith? Officials address speculation in Nancy Guthrie disappearance case

More than four months after the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, online speculation surrounding the case has shifted to a new name: Coral Michelle Smith. However, authorities say the wanted fugitive is not connected to the ongoing investigation.

Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Savannah Guthrie, vanished from her Arizona home on January 31, 2026. Since then, investigators have released surveillance footage of a masked person of interest, prompting numerous theories online about the individual's identity.

Recently, speculation intensified after the Pima County Sheriff's Department listed Coral Michelle Smith as a wanted fugitive. The 40-year-old has a lengthy criminal history and is currently wanted in connection with a separate kidnapping and aggravated assault investigation stemming from an incident in Tucson, Arizona.

According to authorities, Smith is approximately 5-foot-6, has blonde hair and blue eyes, and is known by the alias “Under The Sea Smith.” Officials have offered a reward for information leading to her arrest.

Court records show Smith was previously convicted of robbery in 2011 and again in 2020. She has also faced charges involving trespassing, attempted vehicle theft, and disorderly conduct.

The proximity of the Tucson crime scene to Nancy Guthrie's residence led some internet users to speculate that Smith could be linked to the high-profile disappearance. However, the sheriff's department has publicly rejected that theory.

“This case is not related to the Guthrie investigation,” officials stated, attempting to put an end to the growing rumors.

Before Smith's name surfaced, public attention had focused on Nancy's son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni. Online speculation increased after commentary from media personalities and internet investigators suggested he resembled the masked individual seen in surveillance footage released by authorities.

Those claims have also been disputed. Law enforcement officials have said members of Nancy Guthrie's family, including Cioni, are not considered suspects in the case.

Despite repeated statements from authorities, theories about the identity of the person seen in the surveillance footage continue to circulate online as investigators search for answers in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance.