Fact Check: Is Nancy Guthrie buried under a 'grass lawn' in California?

WASHINGTON, DC: A new claim circulating online alleges that Nancy Guthrie, the missing 84-year-old mother of 'TODAY' show anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been buried beneath a “grass lawn” at a private property in California.

The assertion has surfaced months after she was reported missing on February 1, even as authorities continue to treat the case as a kidnapping.

Here’s what the claim says and what the facts show.

Claim: Nancy Guthrie is buried under a 'grass lawn' in California 

The claim stems from a YouTube video by a man identified as Richard Alvey and has since been amplified online.

In a video lasting just over four minutes, Richard Alvey claims that he knows where Nancy Guthrie is buried.

In the clip, he states, “Nancy Guthrie is buried in a beautiful grass lawn…” and goes on to describe the alleged burial site as a secluded, gated property.

He further claims viewers “can’t just walk up to her grave,” alleging the location is secured with fencing and positioned in a remote setting.

In the comments section of the video, Alvey identifies the site as a property at 1675 Scenic View Way in Nipomo, California.

Alvey also attempts to link the property to Frederick Woods, a man previously convicted in the 1976 Chowchilla school bus kidnapping case, claiming he lives in the “same geographical area” as Nancy Guthrie.

Fact Check: The claim is unverified and contradicted by known facts

There is no official confirmation from authorities that Nancy Guthrie is dead.

Law enforcement agencies continue to treat her case as a kidnapping and have not announced the discovery of a body or burial site.

Alvey’s claim is not supported by any evidence.

He himself indicated in the video’s comments that the assertion is speculation and not based on confirmed findings.

He also acknowledged that he has not successfully relayed this information to federal authorities.

The location claim does not hold up under scrutiny.

While Frederick Woods is associated with property in Nipomo, California, there is no evidence linking him to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.

Additionally, Guthrie was reported missing from Tucson, Arizona, more than 700 miles away, and authorities have not indicated any connection to California.

The theory also appears to rely on language from ransom-style messages that referenced being “buried in nature.”

Those messages have already been deemed not credible by the FBI, further undermining the basis of the claim.