Pacemakers Offer Limited Help in Kidnapping Investigations

Experts say pacemaker data can't be used to track a person's location, highlighting the technology's limitations for law enforcement.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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The recent kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC News anchor Savannah Guthrie, has raised questions about the role of pacemakers in police investigations. Experts say that while pacemakers constantly record a person's heart rate, the devices do not provide information on a patient's location, limiting their usefulness in tracking down a kidnapped individual.

Why it matters

As an estimated three million Americans have pacemakers implanted, the limitations of this technology in criminal investigations are an important consideration for law enforcement and the public. The case highlights the need for a better understanding of what data pacemakers can and cannot provide to assist in solving crimes.

The details

Pacemakers are designed to monitor a person's heart rate and prevent it from dropping too low, sending electronic pulses to drive the rate back up. However, the devices do not track a person's location. Pacemaker data is typically transmitted to a remote monitoring device, often a bedside unit or smartphone app, which then sends the information to the device manufacturer. This data is primarily used by doctors to check the pacemaker's functionality, not to locate a patient. Experts say that in order for pacemaker data to be transmitted, the person must be in close proximity, typically within 10 feet, of the monitoring device.

  • The kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie occurred in early 2026.

The players

Nancy Guthrie

The 84-year-old mother of NBC News anchor Savannah Guthrie, who was recently kidnapped.

Savannah Guthrie

The NBC News anchor whose mother, Nancy Guthrie, was recently kidnapped.

Dr. Michael Mack

A heart surgeon at Baylor Scott & White Health in Dallas who commented on the limitations of pacemakers in police investigations.

Dr. Roderick Tung

The director of the cardiac electrophysiology program at the Banner — University Medical Center Phoenix in Arizona who discussed how pacemaker data is transmitted.

Dr. Kenneth Stein

The global chief medical officer at Boston Scientific, a company that makes pacemakers, who explained the data transmission process.

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What they’re saying

“A pacemaker 'would not help' find someone who was kidnapped.”

— Dr. Michael Mack, heart surgeon (dnyuz.com)

“Pacemakers are constantly recording data, but they do not provide information on a patient's location.”

— Dr. Roderick Tung, director of the cardiac electrophysiology program (dnyuz.com)

“In order for pacemaker data to be sent to the monitor, the person needs to be close by — typically no more than about 10 feet away.”

— Dr. Roderick Tung, director of the cardiac electrophysiology program (dnyuz.com)

What’s next

Investigators will continue to explore other methods and technologies that may assist in locating Nancy Guthrie and apprehending her kidnappers.

The takeaway

This case highlights the limitations of using pacemaker data in criminal investigations, as the technology is primarily designed for medical monitoring rather than tracking a person's location. It underscores the need for law enforcement to explore alternative methods and technologies that may be more effective in locating missing individuals.