Savannah Guthrie returns to 'Today' 2 months after mother's disappearance
What's the story
Savannah Guthrie, the co-anchor of NBC's Today show, returned to the studio on Monday after a two-month hiatus due to her mother's mysterious disappearance. Her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, was last seen at her Arizona home on January 31 and reported missing the next day. Despite an extensive search involving federal and local officers as well as volunteers, there have been no leads in her case.
Emotional return
Guthrie's feelings of loss and pain
Guthrie, 54, admitted she is a changed person since her mother's disappearance and finds it hard to move on without knowing what happened. In an Easter Sunday video message from her New York church, she expressed "moments of deep disappointment with God, the feeling of utter abandonment." However, she also emphasized that the resurrection cannot be fully celebrated "if we do not acknowledge feelings of loss and pain."
Return uncertainty
Uncertainty about returning to 'Today'
Despite being one of the most recognizable faces on US morning television since 2012, Guthrie was unsure about her return to Today. In her first interview since her mother's disappearance, she said it was hard to imagine coming back because the show is such a place of joy and lightness. "I can't come back and try to be something that I'm not. But I can't not come back because it's my family."
Kidnapping presumption
Presumed kidnapping and investigation details
Nancy's disappearance is being treated as a presumed kidnapping, according to the Pima County Sheriff's Department. They discovered blood on her front porch at her Tucson, Arizona home, and purported ransom notes were sent to news outlets. However, deadlines for paying these ransoms have passed without any sign of Nancy. The FBI has also released surveillance footage of a masked man on the porch that night as part of their investigation.
Reward offered
$1 million reward offered for Nancy's safe return
The Guthrie family has reportedly offered a $1 million reward for any information leading to Nancy's safe return. Earlier, some media outlets reported receiving ransom messages linked to the case. Savannah and her siblings responded to two they believed were real and expressed their willingness to pay. Guthrie speculated that her celebrity status could be why her mother was kidnapped but admitted that thought was "too much to bear."