Today show host Savannah Guthrie got emotional while pleading with viewers on Tuesday, June 23, after reports emerged that her missing mom, Nancy Guthrie, may be dead.
“I love you guys, and I love this place, and this is unusual and unprecedented, to say the least, to be sitting here.” Savannah, 54, told her cohosts Craig Melvin, Al Roker, Carson Daly and Jenna Bush Hager. “I don’t have any comment on this story. I’m not involved in our coverage, but I can’t pretend I’m not here. Since I am, I just wanted to take the opportunity to ask people — really, to beg people — to come forward.”
She continued, “Somebody knows something. This is a news story today that is on your radar, because this is the life my sister lives, that I live, that my brother lives and our extended families live, that our children live every day. We are in agony. We cannot be in peace.”
Through tears, Savannah promised Today viewers that she will “find that joy” as she continues to go to work every day.
“This is a moment to tell you we need your help. We’re begging for your help. I’m not going to miss that opportunity,” she concluded. “Please, if you’re watching. No matter how small, the reward is there. You can tell us. It can be anonymous. Please do the right thing for us, for our family, for our children. We love our mom, and we’ll never stop looking for her.”
Recent reports stated that ransom notes sent by Nancy’s kidnappers claimed the 84-year-old died after her February disappearance. Air Mail was first to share the allegations over the weekend, stating that investigators first received a message from the kidnappers on February 2, asking for $4 million to be paid for Nancy’s return. By February 6, they allegedly received a second note claiming Nancy was dead.
NBC News, which notably broadcasts Today, shared a separate report on Monday, June 22, revealing that the second letter claimed Nancy had died. Meanwhile, TMZ — which also received several ransom notes amid Nancy’s disappearance — published a report of its own on Monday clarifying it was not one of the media outlets informed of Nancy’s alleged death.
News broke on February 1 that a family member called 911 to report Nancy missing in Arizona. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department referred to Nancy as a “vulnerable adult” who was last seen the evening of January 31. Sheriff Chris Nanos said in a press conference at the time that Nancy has “no cognitive issues at all.”
According to authorities, there were “concerning circumstances found at the home.” Nanos also noted that the homicide team was involved as search efforts continued.
Savannah’s family subsequently released a statement, which read, “We can confirm this is a missing persons case, and the family is working closely with local law enforcement.”
Nanos later confirmed to Us that Nancy’s disappearance was being investigated as a crime after she was seemingly taken while she was asleep.
“Something unusual at that house occurred that made us go, ‘Wow, something’s wrong here. Something doesn’t fit,’” he shared earlier this month. “We’re gonna pull all the stops and go at all angles. We really do hope it’s a search-and-rescue mission and we find her and she’s safe and sound. But it would be unjust if we didn’t look at what’s in front of us and go, ‘We need to act.’”
Authorities started investigating numerous alleged ransom letters — including a note demanding millions in bitcoin. Savannah and her siblings shared a video on February 7 in which they appeared to be addressing their mother’s kidnappers.
“We received your message, and we understand,” Savannah said in the video while holding hands with Annie Guthrie and Camron Guthrie. “We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us and we will pay.”
