Hoda Kotb returned to “Today” on Friday to show support for her former co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, whose 84-year-old mother Nancy Guthrie has been missing since Jan. 31.
Kotb, who was Guthrie’s “Today” co-anchor form 2018 to 2025, joined Craig Melvin, Sheinelle Jones and Carson Daly to present a touching segment on the outpouring of support for the Guthrie family.
“Well, first of all, I just want to say this whole thing is breaking my heart and I’m happy to be sitting here with you,” Kotb began. “Because you’re family!” Jones interjected.
“I’ve been wandering around going, ‘Where do we go?’ And I picture Savannah sitting there,” a visibly emotional Kotb added, gesturing towards the “Today” desk.
“Anyway, I just want to say good morning, and everybody’s hoping and praying for Nancy’s safe return,” Kotb said. “There’s been a massive show of support, from vigils to people offering positive thoughts online and just a lot of hope. The nation’s rallying around our dear friend Savannah and her family, believing their beloved mom Nancy will be back soon in their loving arms.”
After the segment, Kotb shared that she’s been feeling “helpless” about the situation and reflected on all the times Guthrie has helped her co-hosts when they were in need.
“I mean, we’re all so close with her and we all want to help her,” she said. “I’m looking at us and thinking like, who was first in the hospital room when [my daughter] Hope was sick? Savannah. Who hopped on a plane when [Daly’s] parents [died]? Savannah. Who was sitting by [Jones’ late husband] Uche Ojeh? How about when [Melvin’s] brother passed? I mean, she was there. I was thinking this morning, you know, they say love is patient, love is kind. Like, we’ll be patient and put prayers up. And that’s all we can do.”
Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance from her Arizona residence was first reported on Feb. 1. Two days later, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told reporters that the police were treating the case as a crime after finding “some things at the home that were very concerning.”
“I think I told you she is very limited in her mobility. We know she didn’t just walk out of there. That we know,” Nanos said. “There are other things at the site…that indicate …she did not leave on her own. We know that.”
On Wednesday, Savannah Guthrie posted a video to Instagram in which she and her siblings pleaded with their mother’s kidnapper.
“She’s 84 years old. Her health, her heart, is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive, and she needs it not to suffer,” Guthrie said. “We, too, have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media. As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen.”
The FBI, which is jointly investigating the disappearance case with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, announced on Feb. 5 a $50,000 reward for information leading to recovery of Nancy Guthrie “and or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.”
“The FBI has agents, analysts and professional staff employees working day and night with our partners at the sheriff’s department,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke said during a news conference. “We have deployed additional intelligence and agents from our Phoenix office.”
Nanos also presented a timeline of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance during the press conference, stating that her doorbell camera was disconnected at 1:47 a.m. MST on Sunday, Feb. 1. Although the system later detected movement at 2:12 a.m., no video footage is available.
At the time, Nanos said the police “have not identified a suspect or a person of interest in this case.”
He added, “We are working our best to do that. To be clear: we have nobody of interest or any suspects that you would consider a prime suspect.”
English (US) ·