Savannah Guthrie visits ‘TODAY’ studio as she plans to eventually return to show

Savannah Guthrie Returns to ‘TODAY’ Studio Amid Mother’s Disappearance Investigation

Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of the NBC morning show, made a brief stop at the TODAY studio on Thursday. This visit occurred as the search for her missing 84-year-old mother entered its 32nd day. A representative from the show shared that Guthrie was “here to reconnect with her colleagues and express gratitude.” The visit, however, was not broadcast, highlighting her emotional focus on family matters.

Nancy Guthrie, Savannah’s mother, was last seen on Feb. 1 after missing a scheduled online church gathering in Tucson, Arizona. She had dinner at her daughter Annie’s home the night prior and was last spotted around 9:45 p.m. Authorities have indicated the case may involve kidnapping or abduction, though evidence has been limited. The Guthrie family is currently offering a $1 million reward for information leading to their mother’s safe return.

“She said that she has the intention to return to the show, even though it feels like the hardest thing to do, it’s also her home and where she feels so loved,” Jenna Bush Hager shared during the broadcast.

Jenna Bush Hager, who co-hosts the morning show, expressed her emotional response to Savannah’s visit. Sheinelle Jones, Bush Hager’s co-host for the third hour of TODAY, added, “We’re still in the storm, but there’s a glimmer of hope even amidst the uncertainty.” Jones told Guthrie, “Whenever you are ready, we are here,” emphasizing the support from the team.

Images captured by an Associated Press photographer outside the TODAY studio showed Savannah Guthrie visibly emotional. She was seen wiping her eyes and hugging colleagues, a moment that underscored her personal connection to the show. The FBI recovered footage of an armed and masked individual near the Guthrie residence on the day Nancy vanished. Investigators have identified this person as a suspect but have not publicly named them.

The suspect, described as a man between 5 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall with an average build, was wearing a black, 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack in the video. Savannah’s visit came after she had not appeared on air since her mother’s disappearance, spending most of that time with family in Tucson. Daniel Arkin, a senior reporter at NBC News, provided updates on the case.