Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie released an emotional video plea on July 27, 2026, urging the kidnappers of her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, to do the right thing. The appeal comes nearly six months after Nancy vanished from her home in Tucson, Arizona, on February 1.
The video, shared via Instagram, marks a desperate attempt to break a stalemate in an investigation that has left the family in agony. Savannah Guthrie directed her message specifically to those she believes may know her mother’s location, pleading with them to tell us where to look for her
and to bring the situation to an end.
I’m coming on today with a very specific message. It has been months since our mom was taken from us. Our family is in agony. Our family is in a nightmare that will not end. Nothing about our situation has changed. We have done our part, and we will never stop looking for her. We will always ache for her and feel that hole in our hearts. In the
The Abduction of Nancy Guthrie in Tucson
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen on the evening of Jan. 31, when she was dropped off at her home in the Catalina Foothills area of Tucson, Arizona. She was reported missing the following day, Feb. 1, after family members realized she had failed to attend church and could not be reached. Authorities believe Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her home against her will, and police believe she was abducted by an intruder.
Evidence collected at the scene included blood found near the front doorstep. The FBI later released surveillance footage showing a masked man on the porch that night; doorbell camera footage specifically showed a masked man with a gun tampering with the camera around the time of the disappearance. FBI investigators stated she was kidnapped from her home in Pima County.
The investigation also uncovered technical anomalies. According to Newsweek, both Nancy’s doorbell camera and a phone-connected pacemaker monitoring app disconnected during the early morning hours of Feb. 1.
Ransom Notes and FBI Extortion Findings
The search for Nancy Guthrie has been complicated by a series of anonymous communications. Multiple media outlets received ransom notes, including some that demanded payment in bitcoin. Scripps News Group’s Tucson station KGUN was among the news outlets that received ransom notes. TMZ reported receiving several emails, describing one specific demand as highly sophisticated.
However, the legitimacy of these leads has been heavily contested. On July 1, the FBI confirmed that some of the ransom notes were deemed to be extortion attempts without legitimacy. While some notes were ruled out, the FBI Phoenix office stated that others are still being investigated as potentially legitimate.
One particularly devastating note, reported by NBC News on June 23, indicated that Nancy had died shortly after her abduction. The note contained no apology and no request for payment for the release of her body. Savannah Guthrie responded to this report on the Today show, stating that the situation was unusual and unprecedented to say the least.
Financial Incentives and Professional Impact
To encourage information, the Guthrie family and the FBI are offering significant financial rewards for Nancy’s safe recovery. While some sources cite a $1 million reward, other reports state the total rewards offered equal $1.1 million.
The personal toll of the disappearance has bled into Savannah Guthrie’s professional life. She took a multiple month leave of absence from the Today show following the abduction, officially returning to her desk on April 6. During that time, sources told Page Six that staff had been instructed to act as if it were business as usual and not discuss the investigation.
More recently, Guthrie was absent from the show for three consecutive days in late July. While some fans expressed concern, People reported that this absence—which occurred on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday—was unrelated to the disappearance and was instead an attempt to enjoy her summer after a grueling year. Guthrie also took a hiatus earlier this summer to focus on her upcoming Wordle game show for NBC.
Her recent time off followed a Monday where “Today” show fans criticized producers for making Guthrie present a story about a missing man, a decision some called sick and twisted.
“The world can be a cruel and unforgiving place, and I know that you have tried to do things the right way. So I’m asking you, begging you, to do the right thing now. Make the right choice. Help us find her. Tell us where to look for her. I truly believe it is never too late to do the right thing.”
— Savannah Guthrie, Today show co-anchor
The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or use the tipline established by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
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