Gabby Petito's Dad Sends Message of Hope to Nancy Guthrie's Family

Joseph Petito encourages them to spread awareness of other missing persons cases.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Joseph Petito, the father of Gabby Petito, has reached out to the family of Nancy Guthrie, another missing person case, to offer words of encouragement. In an interview with CNN's Laura Coates, Petito told Guthrie's family to "keep the hope" and try to "lead by example" by raising awareness of other missing persons cases.

Why it matters

Petito's message of hope and advocacy reflects the shared experiences and challenges faced by families of missing persons. His outreach to the Guthrie family highlights the importance of community support and raising awareness for all missing persons cases.

The details

Joseph Petito, whose daughter Gabby Petito's disappearance and death gained national attention in 2021, spoke with CNN about reaching out to the family of Nancy Guthrie, who went missing in Arizona in 2026. Petito encouraged the Guthrie family to "keep the hope" and to try to "lead by example" by spreading awareness of other missing persons cases, similar to the advocacy work he has done.

  • Gabby Petito disappeared in 2021.
  • Nancy Guthrie went missing in 2026.

The players

Joseph Petito

The father of Gabby Petito, whose disappearance and death gained national attention in 2021.

Nancy Guthrie

A missing person case in Arizona in 2026.

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What they’re saying

“Keep the hope.”

— Joseph Petito (CNN)

“Lead by example”

— Joseph Petito (CNN)

The takeaway

Petito's outreach to the Guthrie family demonstrates the shared experiences and challenges faced by families of missing persons, and the importance of community support and raising awareness for all missing persons cases.