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, in her first interview since her mother’s disappearance, expressed the profound anxiety and grief she’s endured. She reflected on the possibility that Nancy Guthrie, 84, was taken due to her status as a co-anchor on “TODAY.”
“I’m not sure if it’s because she’s my mother that someone decided to take her. It might be because she’s a well-known figure who has resources, like money, which could make a quick profit,” she shared with Hoda Kotb. “But we still don’t know. That uncertainty is unbearable—thinking that I might have caused this by bringing attention to her.”
Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson, Arizona, home over seven weeks ago. Authorities confirmed she was reported missing Feb. 1 after not attending a virtual church service at a friend’s residence. The last sight of her was around 9:45 p.m. the prior night, following dinner at her daughter Annie Guthrie’s home.
The Guthrie family quickly realized the situation was more than just a simple absence. Savannah noted that her brother, described as “exceptionally intelligent” with a military background, recognized the severity immediately. “Even when I spoke to him on the phone, he understood the gravity right away,” she said. “He suggested, ‘I believe she’s been kidnapped for ransom.’ I asked, ‘Why? What are you saying?’”
“It felt so foolish, like how could I be so naive? But I couldn’t shake the thought: ‘Do you think it’s because of me?’ He replied, ‘I’m sorry, sweetheart, but maybe it is.’ And I knew that,” Savannah added.
Investigators have not yet revealed a suspect or motive. “I just keep saying, ‘I’m so sorry, Mommy. I’m so sorry,’” she said, addressing her siblings, children, and nephew. “I’m sorry to my sister, my brother, and all my loved ones. If it’s because of me, I’m truly sorry.”
The Disappearance Timeline
Savannah recounted the moment she learned of Nancy’s absence. “My sister called me, asking if everything was okay. She said, ‘No. Mom’s missing.’ I responded, ‘What? What are you talking about?’ She replied, ‘She’s gone.’” Both were in shock, with the sister in panic and Savannah matching her fear.
Nancy’s condition was a factor in the family’s concerns. “Annie and Tommy were certain from the start that this wasn’t a case of her simply walking away,” Savannah explained. “She has a severe back issue and struggles with constant pain. On a good day, she could manage to reach the mailbox, but most days she couldn’t.”
Additional clues pointed to foul play. The front doorstep had blood, the doors were ajar, and the Ring camera was pulled down. “We initially thought a medical emergency had occurred,” she said. “But the back doors being open and her belongings remaining untouched made it clear that something more serious was happening.”
Ransom Notes and Investigation
Throughout the ordeal, the family received multiple ransom notes. Savannah believes two of them are genuine. “Many notes came in, and I think most aren’t real,” she said. “But a person sending a fake one would have to consider the impact on a family in distress. Still, I’m convinced the two we acted upon are authentic.”
Within hours of Nancy’s disappearance, Savannah boarded a plane for Tucson. A large-scale search involving state and federal agencies continues, with efforts including land searches, neighbor surveillance, and tracking ransom demands.
Family’s Appeal for Clues
To seek answers, Savannah and her siblings released a tearful Instagram video, urging the kidnapper to contact them. “We’re ready to talk,” they stated in the plea. The family also offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy’s safe return.
Savannah described the process of recording these messages as “unreal.” “How could this be happening?” she asked, reflecting on the surreal nature of the situation.
