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Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026

Is a former South Dakotan leading the Nancy Guthrie investigation?

Michael Klinski, South Dakota News Watch
yes

A Madison High School graduate and former Sioux Falls attorney is leading the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.

Heith Janke started his second stint with the FBI in 2020. He is currently serving as the FBI special agent in charge of Guthrie’s disappearance from her Arizona home. 

Janke worked as an attorney at the Boyce Law Firm in Sioux Falls from 2002-04. He joined the FBI as a special agent from 2004-2017 and left to become the West Fargo, North Dakota, police chief.

Janke graduated from Madison High in 1994 and was a two-time champion in cross country and a five-time champion in track and field (3,200 and 1,600 meter runs). 

The FBI is offering a $50,000 award for information that leads to the whereabouts of Guthrie, who has been missing since Feb. 1. She is the mother of NBC “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie.

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