India, Feb. 8 -- Amid the search for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of 'Today' show host Savannah Guthrie, many are wondering what the motive was behind her potential abduction. While it is impossible to definitively say what someone's motive is or isn't until a suspect has been identified and arrested, retired NYPD Sergeant Joe Giacalone has shed some light on motives in missing persons cases.

Talking about ransom notes, Giacalone told Parade, "Investigators are going to take these serious no matter what. And they have the capability of being able to investigate this as a potential, viable situation, or they can also rule it out as a potential hoax. We've already got one person found out and arrested."

Giacalone was referring to the arrest ...