Savannah Guthrie 'Livid' Over False Accusations Against Brother-in-Law in Missing Mom Case

The 'Today' anchor is reportedly planning to sue fellow journalist Ashleigh Banfield over the false claim.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 10:21am

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Savannah Guthrie, the anchor of the 'Today' show, is reportedly 'livid' over early claims that her brother-in-law Tommaso Cioni was a prime suspect in the disappearance of her mother Nancy Guthrie. According to Guthrie's former NBC colleague Megyn Kelly, Guthrie is planning to sue journalist Ashleigh Banfield for making the false allegation, especially since the local sheriff's office has cleared the family of any involvement.

Why it matters

This case highlights the dangers of making unsubstantiated claims, especially against family members, in high-profile missing persons cases. The false accusations against Guthrie's brother-in-law could have serious reputational and legal consequences, underscoring the need for responsible journalism and fact-checking, particularly when reporting on sensitive personal matters.

The details

Banfield had alleged on air that Cioni, who is married to Guthrie's sister Annie, was possibly a suspect in Nancy Guthrie's Feb. 1 kidnapping in Tucson, Arizona. However, the Pima County Sheriff's Office has since publicly cleared the family of any involvement. Cioni and his wife Annie were the last known people to see Nancy before she disappeared, after having dinner with her the night before.

  • Nancy Guthrie went missing on Feb. 1, 2026.
  • Ashleigh Banfield made the false allegations against Tommaso Cioni just days after Nancy's disappearance.

The players

Savannah Guthrie

The anchor of the 'Today' show and the daughter of the missing woman, Nancy Guthrie.

Tommaso Cioni

The brother-in-law of Savannah Guthrie, who was falsely accused of being a suspect in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance.

Ashleigh Banfield

A journalist who made the false allegations against Tommaso Cioni on air, citing a single law enforcement source.

Chris Nanos

The Pima County Sheriff who publicly cleared the Guthrie family of any involvement in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance.

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What they’re saying

“I have not been able to confirm that the Guthrie family wants to sue Ashleigh Banfield, but I have confirmed that Savannah is livid about that report and definitely does not suspect her or her brother-in-law.”

— Megyn Kelly, Former NBC Colleague of Savannah Guthrie (SiriusXM's The Megyn Kelly Show)

“Can you blame her? I mean, of course, she loves her sister, I'm sure she loves her brother-in-law, and I'm sure she genuinely doesn't believe they had anything to do with it.”

— Megyn Kelly, Former NBC Colleague of Savannah Guthrie (SiriusXM's The Megyn Kelly Show)

What’s next

The Pima County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, and it remains unclear if Savannah Guthrie will pursue legal action against Ashleigh Banfield over the false accusations.

The takeaway

This case underscores the need for responsible journalism and fact-checking, especially when reporting on sensitive personal matters involving missing persons cases. Making unsubstantiated claims against family members can have serious reputational and legal consequences, as this incident with Savannah Guthrie demonstrates.