Savannah Guthrie Returns to Today After Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance

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Savannah Guthrie is back behind the desk. 

Savannah Guthrie returned to hosting Today this morning after taking time away when her mother, Nancy Guthrie, age 84, went missing in late January. She’s back with her co-hosts while the search for her mother continues.

Good morning, and welcome to Today. We’re so happy you’re starting your week with us, and it feels good to be back on the air,” she said at the beginning of the show on April 6th.

You know, it was such a sweet moment! Craig Melvin actually reached out and briefly held her hand while saying, ‘Yes, it’s so good to have you home.’ It was just a really warm and welcoming gesture, and you could feel the genuine happiness in that simple phrase.

Savannah quickly moved past acknowledging her time away, choosing instead to begin the show with news about the conflict in Iran.

“Here we go, ready or not,” she said, “let’s do the news.”

This marks Savannah’s first live appearance on the morning show since her mother’s disappearance, but she previously spoke about the difficult situation with her former Today colleague, Hoda Kotb. Hoda also stepped in to cover Savannah’s duties while she was away.

Over the past two months, Savannah has been overwhelmed by feelings of guilt. She previously shared that her brother, Camron Guthrie, expressed a concern after their mother went missing: that Nancy’s disappearance might be linked to Savannah’s public life.

In an interview on March 27th, she expressed feeling overwhelmed, stating, “The thought that I caused this, that I brought this to her bedside, is just too much to handle.”

“If it is me,” Savannah continued, addressing her mom and family directly, “I’m so sorry.”

The TV host also talked about going back to Today, admitting it would be challenging. She explained that the show is usually a very happy and upbeat environment.

She confessed she couldn’t pretend to be someone she wasn’t, but felt she had to return because her family needed her. She believes it’s what she’s meant to be doing at this time.

Even though she knew returning to work on camera would be challenging, Savannah shared her intention to focus on genuine happiness. She explained that she wants her joy to be a form of resistance and a statement in itself, finding happiness in being present. And if things aren’t joyful, she promises to be honest about that too.

Savannah told Hoda how thankful she is for all the support her family – including her husband, Camron, sister Annie Guthrie, and brother-in-law Tomasso Cioni – has received.

She shared that she was deeply touched by the outpouring of support she’d received, both from those in the public eye and from countless others who reached out with heartfelt notes and messages. She was incredibly grateful for all the prayers and love she’d been shown.

For more on the heartbreaking disappearance of Nancy, read on. 

Nancy Guthrie, mother to Annie, Camron, and Savannah Guthrie, was last seen at her home in Tucson, Arizona, around 9:30 p.m. on January 31st, according to the Pima County police.

Police confirmed to Today that Nancy, age 84, was reported missing by her family on February 1st. A friend noticed she hadn’t attended church that morning and alerted her loved ones. After searching her property for about an hour, her children contacted authorities around noon to report her disappearance.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos later explained the first steps of the investigation, which involved detectives specializing in homicides, at the victim’s home.

It’s unusual for the sheriff to be involved in a situation like this, but what we’ve discovered inside the house is deeply troubling,” he explained to reporters on February 2nd. “This case was particularly striking due to the initial reports and what we actually found at the scene.

This isn’t how things usually work,” Nanos explained. “Normally, our homicide detectives are called out when someone dies, when we have a body to investigate. In this case, we sent them based solely on the information the surveyors provided.”

After looking into what happened, officials stated they think a crime occurred at Nancy’s house.

During a press conference on February 2nd, Nanos stated that investigators now believe they have confirmed a crime scene after processing the area. He asked for the public’s assistance, noting that the community has historically been helpful in solving difficult cases and he hopes they will come forward again.

The sheriff pointed out that Nancy had trouble walking on her own – she couldn’t even walk 50 yards without help – which led him to suspect she didn’t disappear voluntarily.

He stated definitively, “We know she didn’t simply walk away.” He continued, explaining that evidence at the location suggests she didn’t leave by her own volition.

The search for Nancy is ongoing, and officials are concerned because she requires daily medication to stay healthy, and she likely doesn’t have it with her.

During a press conference on February 2nd, Nanos explained that an 84-year-old woman under their care is facing serious health issues and urgently needs medication. Without it within 24 hours, her condition could become life-threatening.

Please, if anyone out there knows anything about what happened, if you saw or heard even the smallest thing, you have to come forward. Seriously, call 911. I just… I can’t bear the thought of another awful outcome. We need answers, and we need them now. We just need help, please!

Although Nancy has faced some health challenges, Dr. Nanos highlighted that her mental sharpness remains excellent.

According to Dr. Nanos, Nancy Guthrie is mentally sound and this situation isn’t related to dementia. She’s very alert and capable. The family wants to emphasize that she didn’t simply wander away; her limited mobility is simply due to her age.

With the search for Nancy still underway, Nanos expressed his wish for her to come home safely.

“I hope we find her safe and sound,” he emphasized, “but we cannot ignore what’s in front of us.”

The day after Nancy was reported missing, the anchor of the Today show publicly shared how difficult this time is for her family.

Speaking for my family, I want to express our gratitude for all the kind thoughts, prayers, and supportive messages we’ve received,” she said in a statement to NBC’s morning show on February 2nd. “Our top priority right now is bringing Nancy home safely.”

She expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their efforts in the investigation and asked anyone with relevant information to reach out to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

Once Savannah learned her mother, Nancy, had been reported missing, her colleagues on the Today show publicly expressed their support.

I’m a huge fan of Nancy, and I was so happy to hear Jenna Bush Hager talk about her on ‘Today with Jenna & Sheinelle’ recently. Jenna even shared that she knows Nancy personally, which is wonderful to hear!

She continued, saying they were thinking of Savannah and her family and sending their prayers to them all.

Meanwhile, Sheinelle Jones emphasized the importance of community during this difficult time. 

She felt the show truly represented the community at its finest when it asked viewers to reach out to the Pima County Sheriff’s department with any information related to the case, even if it seemed insignificant.

She added, “So we’re sending our prayers but we’re also sending our collective action.”

Before concluding the segment, both hosts continued, “We love you, Savannah.”

And Sunday Today anchor Willie Geist also urged fans to keep an eye out for Nancy.

As many of you may have heard, Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy, is missing. I wanted to share that if you happen to be in the Arizona area and have any information about her whereabouts, please don’t hesitate to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Someone posted a message on Instagram Stories with the sheriff’s number on February 2nd, hoping to get the word out, and I’m happy to amplify that message. Every little bit of help can make a difference, and I’m sending positive thoughts to Savannah and her family during this difficult time.

Savannah’s former colleague, Hoda Kotb, also responded to the surprising announcement. She shared a touching photo of Savannah and Nancy together on the Today show set. In a simple message on Instagram from February 2nd, Hoda posted a red heart and praying hands emoji.

Police have labeled Nancy’s home in Arizona a crime scene, but they say there’s no reason to believe the public is at risk.

At a press conference on February 2nd, Pima County Sheriff Nanos stated he didn’t believe there was an immediate danger, but emphasized that the investigation was ongoing and much work remained.

Savannah hasn’t been on Today since February 1st, when her mother was reported missing. However, local authorities have been checking in with her to make sure she’s okay.

The sheriff confirmed they had spoken with her. She has a security team that has been communicating with them all night, but they aren’t ruling anything out at this point.

On Feb. 2, Pima County police shared a series of updates on the timeline of Nancy’s disappearance.

Investigators now think the woman was taken from her home against her will, likely sometime during the night, according to a Pima County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson. Detectives are investigating the possibility that she was kidnapped.

After news broke that Nancy might have been taken from her home in Arizona while she was sleeping, Savannah made a heartfelt plea.

In a recent Instagram post on February 2nd, she shared her faith, writing about the power of prayer, the strength of people coming together with love and hope, and a belief in the goodness of humanity and, most importantly, in God.

Savannah continued, thanking everyone for keeping her mother, Nancy, in their thoughts and prayers. She described Nancy as a woman of strong beliefs and a devoted person, and asked for continued prayers, believing they would offer comfort and strength right now.

She added, “we need you.”

To conclude her plea, Savannah shared a Bible verse from Isaiah.

She shared a verse from Isaiah, writing, ‘He will keep those with steadfast hearts and unwavering trust in the Lord in perfect peace.’ She felt this message held timeless wisdom for everyone.

Savannah continued, “Bring her home.”

Pima County Sheriff Nanos stated that DNA evidence was discovered at Nancy’s house, which is now being treated as a crime scene.

We collected samples and are hoping they contain enough DNA to help us identify what we’re dealing with, he told NBC News in a report on Today on February 3rd.

At a press conference held two days after Nancy went missing, Nanos explained what happened leading up to her disappearance.

According to Nanos, the doorbell camera stopped working at 1:47 a.m., just about four hours after she got back from a family visit, as she explained in a press conference on February 5th.

The software identified someone at the door, but the video was automatically deleted because Nancy didn’t have a paid subscription. However, the representative assured her they were still working to recover the footage.

The sheriff explained that Nancy’s pacemaker app lost connection to her phone at 2:28 a.m. Later, at 11:56 a.m., her family found her missing, and they called 911 at 12:03 p.m. to report it to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

About ten minutes after receiving the report, he explained that patrol teams would arrive, assess the situation, and begin a response involving both search and rescue and detectives from different units.

On February 4th, Savannah, Camron, and Annie read letters hoping to secure their mother’s safe return. The letters were addressed to both their mom, Nancy, and anyone who might be holding her, asking for her release.

In a video posted to Instagram, the family stated they are doing everything possible and are willing to communicate. They emphasized the prevalence of manipulated media and requested definitive proof that their loved one is alive and in the possession of those they are addressing.

She explained, “My mother is the center of our lives and what we consider home.” She’s very frail and constantly in pain, and unfortunately, she doesn’t have the medication she desperately needs to manage her condition and ease her suffering.

The next day, Camron confirmed in a separate video that the family was still “waiting for contact.”

We’re asking whoever has our mother to please contact us. We haven’t received any direct communication, and we urgently need a way to get in touch with them so we can begin to resolve this situation.

During a press conference on February 5th, FBI agent Heith Janke announced the arrest of Derrick Callella from California. Callella is accused of sending fake texts as part of a scheme to make money. Authorities are also taking a detailed ransom letter, which was shared with TMZ, very seriously. Callella has not yet entered a plea and was released on a $20,000 bond.

However, he noted, the Guthrie family was “still waiting for communication.”

On February 7th, the day officials told Today they had searched Annie’s Arizona home as a routine part of the investigation, Savannah posted a new video on Instagram suggesting they had received what they asked for.

Oh my gosh, she finally spoke! I saw the video and it just broke my heart. She was holding Camron and Annie’s hands, and she said they just want their mom back so they can finally celebrate together. It was so desperate, she practically begged whoever has her to bring her home. She said it’s the only way they’ll ever find peace, and honestly, it’s the only way I’ll ever feel okay about this whole thing. I just need her back!

And if her intentions weren’t clear, Savannah added, “This is very valuable to us and we will pay.”

Investigators shared surveillance photos of a person of interest in the case on February 10th.

Footage from a security camera on Nancy’s property shows a person wearing a ski mask and carrying a backpack walking toward her home. The video then appears to show the individual punching the camera, which police found broken when they arrived.

For the past eight days, the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department have been working with private companies to find any lost, damaged, or hidden images or videos from Nancy Guthrie’s home. This effort was necessary because recording devices were removed. They were able to recover the video from data still stored in the systems’ background processes, according to a statement shared with TopMob News.

“Working with our partners,” the note continued, “law enforcement has uncovered these previously inaccessible new images showing an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance.”

After the FBI shared video of the person who went near Nancy’s house, investigators provided a description of the suspect.

According to the FBI’s Phoenix office, the suspect is a man around 5’9” to 5’10” tall with an average build. He was seen in a video wearing a black ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack that holds about 25 liters.

The FBI is now offering a $100,000 reward – up from $50,000 – for information that helps find Nancy Guthrie or leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.

After Nancy had been missing for over two weeks, Pima County Sheriff Nanos released a statement to explain who might be connected to the case.

In a statement released on February 16th, authorities confirmed that the entire Guthrie family – including all siblings and their spouses – have been ruled out as suspects in this case. They emphasized the family has been fully cooperative and are themselves considered victims.

The gloves discovered close to Nancy’s house didn’t seem to connect with the rest of the evidence in the case, according to police.

On March 2nd, Pima County Sheriff Nanos explained to KVOA, the local NBC station, that when a pair of gloves containing DNA were discovered about two miles from the victim’s home nearly three weeks prior, investigators initially and strongly believed the gloves were connected to a restaurant.

Although some people thought the gloves found near the crime scene matched those worn by the suspect in the doorbell camera footage, Nanos dismissed this as just a guess. Investigators had already identified the gloves’ owner – an employee at a local restaurant – and confirmed they weren’t connected to the case.

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2026-04-06 14:49