Savannah Guthrie visits ‘TODAY’ studio as she plans to eventually return to show
Savannah Guthrie’s Return to ‘TODAY’ Studio Amid Mother’s Disappearance
On Thursday, Savannah Guthrie, a co-anchor of the NBC morning show, made a brief stop at the TODAY studio set. This visit occurred as the search for her 84-year-old mother continued into its 32nd day. A TODAY spokesperson shared that Guthrie’s presence was to express gratitude toward her colleagues, while emphasizing her intent to return to the airwaves.
Guthrie’s mother, Nancy, was reported missing on February 1 after failing to appear at a friend’s home in Tucson for an online church service. The last confirmed sighting of Nancy was the previous evening, around 9:45 p.m., following a dinner at her daughter Annie Guthrie’s residence. Authorities have classified the case as a potential kidnapping or abduction, though limited evidence has been uncovered.
“She said that she has the intention to return to the show, even though it feels like the hardest thing to do, it’s also her home and where she feels so loved,” Jenna Bush Hager stated during a TODAY broadcast.
Jenna Bush Hager, another co-anchor, expressed emotional support for Guthrie’s visit. Sheinelle Jones, who co-hosts the third hour of TODAY, added that the moment was a “step” toward resolution. “Whenever you are ready, we are here,” Jones told Guthrie, highlighting the team’s commitment.
Photographs from outside the TODAY studio, captured by an Associated Press photographer, showed Guthrie visibly moved. She wiped tears and embraced her coworkers, reflecting the team’s solidarity during the crisis.
The Guthrie family announced a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy’s recovery. In a Feb. 24 statement, Savannah noted the family’s belief that her mother “can come home,” yet acknowledged the possibility she “may be lost” or “already be gone.”
The FBI released doorbell camera footage from the morning of Nancy’s disappearance, revealing an armed and masked man near the Guthrie home. Investigators have identified him as a suspect, though his identity remains undisclosed. The suspect is described as a male between 5 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, with an average build, wearing a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.
Senior NBC News reporter Daniel Arkin covered the developments in the case.