Ed Smart, whose daughter Elizabeth Smart was abducted in 2002 and later found alive, told Newsmax on Thursday that families facing the disappearance of a loved one must hold onto hope.
Drawing on his own experience, he spoke about the situation involving the mother of "Today" show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.
He said families in such circumstances often endure constant fear and uncertainty, even as they trust authorities are doing everything possible.
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"I think they're doing the best that they can," he told "The Record With Greta Van Susteren."
"Staying hopeful and hoping that everything's being done that possibly can be."
Ed Smart said he and his family experienced similar anguish during the nine months his daughter was missing, worrying constantly about her safety and how she was enduring.
"We worried to no end about what Elizabeth was going through, how she was surviving," he said, adding that he believes the Guthrie family is experiencing those same emotions now.
Despite the pain, Ed Smart emphasized the importance of maintaining hope, noting that belief played a critical role during his family's ordeal.
"There is hope, though, and there is the potential that they will be reunited again," he said. "I think that's so important to keep that in the forefront of their lives right now."
He described the experience of having a missing family member as overwhelming and difficult to comprehend.
"It's one of those unbelievable things," he said.
He recalled that throughout Elizabeth Smart's disappearance, he held onto a strong intuition that she was still alive, even during moments of despair.
"I had this feeling that Elizabeth was still out there," he said. "Certainly there were difficult times where I just thought, 'God, please just let this come to an end.' But I still had that feeling that she was out there."
Elizabeth Smart was rescued in June 2003 after being held captive for nine months, a recovery Ed Smart described as nothing short of extraordinary.
"It was a miracle that she came back," he said.
He said he hopes for a similar outcome for the Guthrie family, expressing his desire that they experience the same reunion his family did.
"I certainly hope that that happens for the Guthrie family," he said.
Investigators have no proof that Nancy Guthrie is still alive but are holding out hope she's "still out there," a sheriff in Arizona said Thursday.
Five days into the desperate search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, authorities have not identified any suspects or persons of interest, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said.
DNA tests showed blood found on her front porch matched Nancy Guthrie. Authorities think she was taken against her will from her home in Tucson over the weekend.
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Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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