Savannah Guthrie feared her mother may have been targeted because of her fame
Savannah Guthrie feared her mother may have been targeted because of her fame
Savannah Guthrie has spoken openly about the intense fear and emotional turmoil she feels regarding her mother’s disappearance. In her first interview since Nancy Guthrie went missing, she expressed concerns that her mother’s fame as a co-anchor on “TODAY” might have made her a target. “I don’t know that it’s because she’s my mom and someone thought, ‘Oh, that lady has money. We can … make a quick buck,’” she told Hoda Kotb. “But we don’t know. That’s what’s unbearable—thinking I brought this fear to her bedside. That it’s because of me.”
A seven-week mystery
Nancy Guthrie, 84, vanished from her home near Tucson, Arizona, over a month ago. She was reported missing on February 1 after failing to attend a virtual church service at a friend’s residence, according to authorities. Her last known sighting was the night before, around 9:45 p.m., after having dinner at her daughter Annie Guthrie’s home. The family quickly realized something serious had occurred, with Savannah reflecting on the dread that followed.
“My sister called me … I said, ‘Is everything OK?’ And she said, ‘No.’ She said, ‘Mom’s missing.’ And I said, ‘What? What are you talking about?’ She said, ‘She’s gone,’” Savannah recounted. “She was in a panic. I was in a panic.” The family initially believed Nancy might have had a medical emergency, but the clues—doors left ajar, blood on the front step, and the Ring camera pulled down—suggested otherwise. “On a good day, she could walk down to the mailbox and get the mail, but most days not,” Savannah explained, highlighting her mother’s chronic pain and mobility challenges.
Brother’s insight
Savannah’s brother, described as “brilliant” with a military background, was the first to grasp the gravity of the situation. “Even on the phone when I called him, he knew,” she said. “He said, ‘I think she’s been kidnapped for ransom.’ And I said, ‘What? Well, why? What?’” She added, “It sounds so, like, how dumb could I be? But I just— I didn’t wanna believe. I just said, ‘Do you think because of me?’ And he said, ‘I’m sorry, sweetie, but yeah, maybe.’”
The family’s efforts to locate Nancy have involved a large-scale investigation with state and federal agencies. Land searches, neighbor video footage, and ransom notes have been key elements in the search. Savannah believes two of the notes are authentic, stating, “There are a lot of different notes that came. And I think most of them, it’s my understanding, are not real. But I believe the two notes we responded to are real.”
In a heartfelt plea, Savannah and her siblings shared a tearful video on Instagram, urging anyone with information to come forward. “We’re ready to talk,” they said, offering a $1 million reward for Nancy’s safe return. “Recording these videos has been surreal,” Savannah remarked, reflecting on the emotional weight of the situation. “How is it possible…” she paused, capturing the uncertainty that still lingers.