Savannah Guthrie's Official Today Show Return Could Be Announced Within Days
Sources indicate that Savannah Guthrie's official return to NBC's Today show could be unveiled in a matter of days, following her first emotional interview since her mother Nancy's abduction. The Today show host broke down in tears during the interview with co-star Hoda Kotb, which is scheduled to air in two parts on Thursday and Friday.
Heartbreaking Details of the Abduction and Investigation
Nancy Guthrie, aged 84, was abducted from her $1 million home in Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of February 1st. Despite a nearly two-month-long investigation involving the Pima County Sheriff's Department and the FBI, no suspects have been named and no arrests have been made. The Guthrie family has announced a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy's return, with the FBI offering an additional $100,000.
Savannah Guthrie was last on air two days before her mother's disappearance and has primarily remained in Arizona to assist in the search and support her family. Hoda Kotb has been filling in at the anchor desk during her absence. While NBC has not officially announced her return date, a source familiar with the matter told Variety that an announcement is likely within the coming days. Another source informed Page Six that Savannah hopes to return after her children's spring break, with most New York schools resuming by April 10th.
Emotional Interview Reveals Personal Anguish
In the interview excerpt shared on Wednesday, Savannah Guthrie expressed her determination to return to the show, telling Kotb, 'I wanted you to know that I’m still standing, and I still have hope. And I don’t know what version of me that will be, but it will be.' She emphasized her desire to show the audience that 'I'm still me.' Savannah returned to the Today studio earlier this month, having been part of the program since 2012.
During the emotional conversation, both Guthrie and Kotb wept as Savannah described being haunted nightly by thoughts of her mother's terror. 'I wake up every night in the middle of the night, every night. And in the darkness, I imagine her terror. And it is unthinkable, but those thoughts demand to be thought. And I will not hide my face. But she needs to come home now,' she said. She added, 'Someone needs to do the right thing. We are in agony. It is unbearable. And to think of what she went through.'
Family's Plea to the Community
The Guthrie family released a heartbreaking statement during a special broadcast by local Arizona news station KVOA on Saturday, titled 'Bring Her Home - The Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.' In the statement, they thanked the Tucson community for their support, stating, 'We are all family now.' They expressed belief that Tucsonans and the greater southern Arizona community hold the key to resolving the case, urging anyone with information to come forward.
The family asked residents to search their memories, particularly focusing on the night of January 31st and early morning of February 1st, when investigators believe Nancy was taken. They requested renewed attention on the case, including reviewing camera footage, journal notes, text messages, and observations. 'We miss our mom with every breath and we cannot be in peace until she is home. We cannot grieve; we can only ache and wonder. Our focus is solely on finding her and bringing her home,' the statement continued. 'We want to celebrate her beautiful and courageous life. But we cannot do that until she is brought to a final place of rest.'
The Daily Mail has contacted NBC for comment on the situation.
