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
More than seven weeks have passed since Nancy Guthrie, 84, vanished from her Tucson, Arizona, residence, leaving her family in a state of profound uncertainty. The disappearance was first reported on February 1 when she missed a virtual church service at a friend’s home, according to authorities. She was last seen the night prior, around 9:45 p.m., after dinner at her daughter Annie Guthrie’s house. The Guthrie family quickly realized something far more serious had occurred, as the initial signs pointed to a deliberate abduction rather than a simple misadventure.
“I don’t know that it’s because she’s my mom and somebody thought, ‘Oh, that girl— that lady has money. We can … make a quick buck.’ I mean, that would make sense,” Savannah Guthrie told Hoda Kotb during her first interview since the incident. “But we don’t know. Which is too much to bear, to think that I brought this to her bedside. That it’s because of me.”
Savannah expressed deep anxiety about her mother’s status as a well-known co-anchor on “TODAY,” wondering if her public recognition had made Nancy a target. Her brother, described as “brilliant” with a military background, was the first to recognize the severity of the situation. “Even on the phone when I called him, he knew,” Savannah recalled. “He said, ‘I think she’s been kidnapped for ransom.’ And I said, ‘What? Well, why? What?’”
“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.’ But I knew that,” Savannah said, reflecting on the emotional weight of the possibility.
The family’s search for answers has been marked by unsettling clues. Nancy’s home showed signs of forced entry, with doors left ajar and blood spotted on the front doorstep. A security camera had been ripped from its mount, adding to the mystery. Initially, they considered a medical emergency, as paramedics had visited the home. However, the presence of her belongings inside the house contradicted that theory.
Within hours of learning of her mother’s absence, Savannah boarded a plane to Tucson, joining a sweeping investigation involving state and federal agencies. The probe has included land searches, neighbor interviews, and analysis of ransom notes. Savannah believes two of the notes are genuine, though many others were likely fabricated. “A person that would send a fake ransom note really has to look deeply at themselves, to a family in pain,” she remarked, emphasizing the emotional toll of the situation.
The Guthrie family has taken to social media, sharing a tearful video on Instagram to appeal for help. In the clip, they plead with the kidnapper to “talk” and offer a $1 million reward for Nancy’s safe return. “Recording such videos has been surreal,” Savannah admitted. “How is it possible that the world is still watching, yet we’re still searching for answers?”
As the search continues, Savannah’s words carry both grief and determination. “I’d just say, ‘I’m so sorry, Mommy. I’m so sorry.’ I’m sorry to my sister and my brother and my kids and my nephew and Tommy, my brother-in-law,” she said, voicing her anguish over the uncertainty surrounding her mother’s fate.
