Savannah Guthrie Fears Her Fame Put Mother at Risk of Alleged Kidnapping

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Savannah Guthrie, the co-anchor of the Today show, has given her first interview since her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, vanished from her Tucson-area home seven weeks ago. Guthrie fears that her celebrity may have made her mother a target for a kidnapping for ransom, as her brother, a military veteran, quickly suspected. Authorities have released video of a masked, armed suspect and are probing ransom letters, some of which Guthrie believes are genuine.

Why it matters

This case highlights the potential dangers that public figures and their families can face, as Guthrie's fame may have made her mother a target for criminals. It also raises questions about the impact of celebrity on personal safety and the challenges of dealing with a loved one's disappearance under such circumstances.

The details

Nancy Guthrie was last seen on January 31 after dinner at her daughter Annie's house. She was reported missing the next day, and the family initially thought she might have been taken to a hospital by paramedics, as the back doors of the home were propped open. However, they quickly realized this theory didn't add up, as Nancy's phone and purse were inside the home, there was blood on the front step, and a doorbell camera had been removed.

• Nancy Guthrie was last seen on January 31, 2026.
• Nancy Guthrie was reported missing the next day, on February 1, 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Investigators have released video of a masked, armed suspect and are probing ransom letters. The family is waiting for more information to determine what happened to Nancy Guthrie.