Savannah Guthrie Goes Off-Air as Homicide Squad Searches for Her Missing Mom

The Today show anchor, 54, broke her silence after news emerged that her mother, Nancy Guthrie, 84, has been reported missing in Arizona. Savannah was notably absent from Monday morning’s broadcast, with Sheinelle Jones stepping in alongside Craig Melvin during the 7:00 a.m. hour. Instead of appearing on air, Savannah shared a written statement that was read during the show, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.

“On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and messages of support,” Savannah said. “Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom.” She also publicly thanked law enforcement and urged anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

A spokesperson for the Guthrie family confirmed the case is being treated as a missing persons investigation and said the family is working closely with local authorities. The family, according to the statement, is deeply grateful for the outpouring of support they’ve received.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home in the Catalina Foothills area north of Tucson around 9:30 p.m. Saturday. She was reported missing the following day. The Pima County Sheriff’s Office described the 84-year-old as being in poor physical health and classified her as a vulnerable adult, heightening concerns about her safety.

During a press conference, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos revealed that a relative placed a 911 call around noon Saturday to report Nancy missing. He also confirmed that homicide detectives were brought in to search Nancy’s home, a move he acknowledged is not standard protocol for a typical missing person case.

“We’ve pretty much thrown everything at this as we can,” Nanos said. “This is very concerning to us; we don’t typically get the sheriff out on a scene like this, but it is very concerning.” He added that there is “grave concern” for Nancy’s well-being as the search continues.

Nancy Guthrie has been a familiar and beloved presence on Today, making several guest appearances since Savannah joined the show in 2011. Photos of the mother-daughter duo, both on set and shared on social media, have circulated widely as fans express hope for Nancy’s safe return.