New Delhi, Feb. 9 -- A former senior FBI official has questioned whether Savannah Guthrie's missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, 84, is actually alive or being held by kidnappers, raising fresh doubts about the case as ransom demands continue to circulate.

Chris Swecker, a former FBI Assistant Director, said he was unconvinced by the claims made by individuals alleging they have abducted the Today show anchor's mother.

"I'm very skeptical of this," Swecker told Fox News on Sunday.

"Is this really a kidnapping? Does somebody really have her, and is she really alive?"

Swecker said that if the case involved a genuine kidnapping, providing proof of life would be straightforward - something he said has not happened so far.

"If this was a kidnap...