By Brian Stelter, NCS
(NCS) — Savannah Guthrie was supposed to fly to Italy on Monday for NBC’s much-anticipated protection of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
But as a substitute, Guthrie spent a heart-wrenching day in Tucson, Arizona, supporting a large seek for her 84-year-old mom, Nancy.
The elder Guthrie’s disappearance grew to become nationwide information on Monday as authorities described her house as a “crime scene” and requested the public for assist discovering her.
NBC mobilized its appreciable sources to assist one of the community’s largest and best-loved stars. Guthrie’s co-hosts on the “Today” present shared the Pima County Sheriff’s Department’s tip line phone quantity, 520-351-4900, all throughout tv and social media.
This story “hits too close to home for our newsroom,” anchor Tom Llamas mentioned Monday evening, main “NBC Nightly News” with the lacking particular person case.
“The sheriff there tells me she was taken against her will from her bed in the middle of the night,” Llamas reported. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Savannah and her family right now.”
Guthrie, a 19-year veteran of NBC, joined the “Today” present forged in 2011 and was promoted to one of the foremost co-host chairs only one yr later.
Over the years she has added different roles, together with co-hosting NBC’s protection of the Olympics opening ceremonies, which she was scheduled to host once more this Friday at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, alongside sports activities commentator Terry Gannon.
Guthrie was additionally slated to anchor NBC’s first evening of prime time Olympics protection as a result of the traditional anchor, Mike Tirico, can be in California for the Super Bowl.
‘The worst phone call of her life…’
With that large worldwide journey arising, Guthrie spent a lot of final weekend with her husband and two children.
But her plans had been shattered when a member of the family known as her and mentioned Nancy was lacking.
It was “the worst phone call of her life,” mentioned an NBC producer who is aware of Savannah personally.
Authorities in Pima County, Arizona, mentioned Nancy’s relations searched her house in useless earlier than calling 911 to report her lacking round midday native time on Sunday.
A supply accustomed to the matter mentioned Savannah instantly scrambled to fly to Tucson.
On Monday morning, Pima County sheriff Chris Nanos mentioned Savannah had been in contact along with his workplace, and “she has a security team that’s been in touch with us throughout the night.”
The NBC host known as herself a “daughter of the desert” in a “Today” present phase about her Tucson roots final fall.
In the phase, Savannah and Nancy dined collectively at an area restaurant — one of many occasions the host featured her mother on the morning present.
Nancy known as Tucson “wonderful” throughout the phase: “Just the air, the quality of life is laid back and gentle.”
“I like to watch the javelinas eat my plants,” she added with amusing, referring to pig-looking animals which might be usually seen in the space.
Savannah’s household historical past is well-known to “Today” present followers. Nancy and her husband Charles lived in Australia, the place Charles labored as a mining engineer, when Savannah was born in 1971.
The household relocated to Arizona when Savannah was younger. Charles died of a coronary heart assault when she was beginning senior yr of highschool.
“We lost my dad suddenly and shockingly,” Savannah recalled in a 2023 interview. “And my mom was so strong, and set aside her own grief in many ways, just to be there and make sure we could all move forward together.”
‘We are praying’
On Monday, Savannah issued an announcement on behalf of her household, thanking regulation enforcement and saying “our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom.”
The “Today” present usually relocates to the web site of the Olympics for a protracted stretch of the video games. It nearly goes with out saying that Savannah’s Olympics plans are on maintain.
An NBC spokesperson had no touch upon any adjustments, however a supply accustomed to the matter mentioned Guthrie is not going to host the opening ceremony telecast.
Anchors and reporters throughout the community shared prayers for the Guthries on Monday. Llamas ended Monday’s “Nightly News” by saying, “Tonight, we’re asking for your help” to discover the elder Guthrie.
“If you know Savannah then you know her mom — because she raised her, through some very tough times,” Llamas mentioned. “Savannah has shared that it was her mother who taught her the power of prayer, the types of prayers that make you get on your knees and pray for God’s protection. Savannah and her family need your prayers tonight. They also need your help.”
“Savannah,” Llamas mentioned, “we know how strong you are, we are praying, and we won’t stop until you find her.”
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