“We need to know she is alive,” the TODAY anchor said as investigators warn time is critical
Four days after her 84-year-old mother vanished from her Arizona home, Savannah Guthrie delivered an emotional public appeal that underscored the growing urgency of the case.
In a video posted to Instagram on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, Guthrie appeared alongside her siblings, Annie and Camron, addressing both their missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, and whoever may be holding her.
The message was simple and raw: Bring her home.
“We are ready to talk,” Savannah said through tears. “But we live in a world where images and voices can be manipulated. We need to know, without a doubt, that she is alive and that you have her.”
Nancy Guthrie was last seen around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, at her home in southern Arizona. She was reported missing the following morning. By Monday, authorities had labeled the residence a crime scene and said they believe she was taken against her will.
The investigation is now being led by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which has warned that Nancy’s medical condition makes the situation especially dire.
“She is 84 years old,” Savannah said in the video. “Her heart is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She is without her medication. She needs it to survive.”
Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed that concern in a press briefing earlier this week.
“If she doesn’t have her medication within 24 hours, it could be fatal,” Nanos said. “She did not leave on her own.”
Family members say Nancy is mentally sharp, deeply faithful, and central to their lives. Savannah described her as “our heart and our home,” while Annie called her “our beacon,” adding that the family is now simply “normal human people who need our mom.”
“Mama, if you’re listening,” Annie said, “we need you to come home.”
Camron ended the plea quietly but firmly. “We love you, mama. Stay strong.”
The Guthrie family has acknowledged reports of a possible ransom note circulating in the media but emphasized that any contact must prove Nancy is alive.
“We want to hear from you,” Savannah said. “And we are ready to listen.”
The disappearance has already rippled through Savannah Guthrie’s professional life. NBC confirmed Tuesday that she will no longer participate in coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics, originally scheduled to begin this week in Milan. The network said Guthrie is focusing entirely on her family as the search continues.
Colleagues on Today read her first public statement aloud on air earlier this week after she stepped away from the broadcast.
“Our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom,” the statement said.
Investigators say they still do not know where Nancy Guthrie is or how many people may be involved in her disappearance. Sheriff Nanos issued a direct appeal to the public.
“We don’t need another tragic ending,” he said. “We need help.”
Savannah, who has repeatedly turned to faith in her public messages, closed her plea with a message directly to her mother.
“We will not rest,” she said. “Your children will not rest until we are together again.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900, call 88-CRIME, or submit tips anonymously through P3TIPS or 88crime.org.
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