Full Breakdown
Savannah Guthrie Discusses Ransom Notes and Her Mother's Disappearance
3/27/2026, 12:44:07 AM
Overview of the Disappearance
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC's "Today" show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing from her Tucson, Arizona home on February 1, 2026. She was last seen the previous evening after dinner with family. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance suggest a possible kidnapping, as her back doors were found propped open, and there was blood on the porch. Surveillance footage captured a masked individual tampering with a security camera at her home during the early hours of her disappearance.
Ransom Notes and Family Response
Following Nancy's abduction, the Guthrie family received multiple ransom notes, with Savannah Guthrie stating that she believes most of these were fraudulent. However, she expressed confidence that two of the notes they responded to were genuine. “There are a lot of different notes that came, and I think most of them … are not real,” she said during an emotional interview with Hoda Kotb. “But I believe the two notes that we received that we responded to, I tend to believe those are real.” One of the notes reportedly included specific details about Nancy's clothing and items damaged in her home, which raised concerns about its authenticity.
Emotional Toll and Speculation
In her interview, Savannah described the emotional turmoil her family has faced, emphasizing the agony of not knowing her mother's fate. She reflected on the surreal experience of making public pleas for her mother's return, stating, “How is it possible that we are having to make a video speaking to a kidnapper who took an 84-year-old woman?” Savannah also addressed the distress caused by speculation regarding her family's involvement in the case, asserting, “It piles pain upon pain. There are no words. I don’t understand.” The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has cleared the Guthrie family of any suspicion.
Investigative Progress and Community Involvement
The investigation into Nancy's disappearance is ongoing, with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI actively involved. Despite the lack of leads, Savannah urged the public to provide any information that could assist in the case, stating, “Someone knows something.” The family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy's recovery. Savannah expressed gratitude for the community's support, noting that they believe local residents hold crucial information.
Official Statements & Responses
Savannah Guthrie has publicly condemned the individuals sending fake ransom notes, stating, “A person that would send a fake ransom note really has to look deeply at themselves, to a family in pain.” She also expressed her fears that her mother's kidnapping may have been motivated by her own fame and wealth, saying, “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.’”
Verbatim Quotes
- “But I believe the two notes that we received that we responded to, I tend to believe those are real.” — Savannah Guthrie, Co-anchor, "Today" show
- “How is it possible that we are having to make a video speaking to a kidnapper who took an 84-year-old woman in the dead of night in her pajamas with no shoes, without her medicine?” — Savannah Guthrie
- “It's pain upon pain. There are no words. I'll never understand.” — Savannah Guthrie
- “Someone knows something.” — Savannah Guthrie
What's Next
The investigation remains active, with authorities continuing to analyze evidence and follow leads. Savannah Guthrie has urged anyone with information to contact law enforcement, emphasizing the family's desperate need for answers regarding Nancy's whereabouts.
