Savannah Guthrie says family is ‘in agony’ in first interview since her mother’s disappearance
Savannah Guthrie says family is ‘in agony’ in first interview since her mother’s disappearance
More than seven weeks after Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Arizona home, her daughter Savannah has spoken publicly for the first time. The TODAY co-host expressed the family’s deep anguish during an interview with Hoda Kotb, which was previewed Wednesday and will air across the week. “Someone needs to do the right thing. We are in agony. It is unbearable,” Savannah said, her voice trembling as she recounted the emotional toll of the search.
“And to think of what she went through. I wake up every night in the middle of the night, every night,” she added. “In the darkness, I imagine her terror. It is unthinkable, but those thoughts demand to be thought. I will not hide my face. But she needs to come home now.”
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen on January 31, the night before she was reported missing on February 1. Her family noted she failed to attend a virtual church service at a friend’s house, prompting concerns. According to authorities, she was last observed at her daughter Annie Guthrie’s home before the disappearance. The search has involved both state and federal agencies, with clues remaining sparse.
Days after Nancy’s disappearance, Savannah and her siblings posted a tearful video on Instagram, imploring the public for help. “We feel them [prayers], and we continue to believe she feels them, too,” they said. The family also emphasized their readiness to discuss the case, offering a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy’s recovery. The FBI has added a $50,000 bounty for tips, further intensifying the investigation.
Authorities have released video of a suspect, showing a masked individual with a weapon interacting with the security camera at Nancy’s Tucson-area home. The doorbell camera footage stopped recording at 1:47 a.m. on February 1, as detailed in a timeline from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Forensic analysis confirmed Nancy’s blood was found on her home’s porch, and genetic genealogy is being considered to identify unknown DNA collected inside.
Savannah, who has taken a break from her role on TODAY, recently visited the New York City studio and shared her resolve to return to the show. “While she plans to resume her post, her focus remains on supporting her family and bringing Nancy home,” a TODAY spokesperson stated. As the search continues, the Guthrie family urges anyone with information to come forward.
Tim Stelloh is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. Pilar Melendez, a breaking news editor, has covered crime, justice, and national news for over a decade.
