Former TODAY show co-host Savannah Guthrie has given her first interview about her family's "agony" following the disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, 84, who has been missing since February 1 after being last seen at her home in Tucson, Arizona. Police have released images of a masked person captured by security cameras, but investigative leads have so far not yielded concrete results.
The Guthrie family is offering a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie's return, in addition to $100,000 pledged by the FBI. In an emotional interview with her former co-host Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie stated, "Someone needs to do the right thing. We are in agony. It is unbearable." She described waking up every night haunted by thoughts of her mother's terror, emphasizing the unbearable pain her family endures.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who is leading the investigation, said authorities believe they have a motive and that Nancy Guthrie was "targeted," though he declined to publicly specify why, citing the ongoing probe. A nationwide search has uncovered potential clues, including DNA evidence and ransom notes, but no suspect has been identified. Nanos warned that the suspected kidnapper could carry out another abduction in the same area from which Guthrie was taken, urging residents not to assume they are safe.
Savannah Guthrie temporarily stepped away from her morning-show presenting duties after her mother's disappearance and did not participate in NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics as planned. Hoda Kotb, her former co-presenter, filled in and conducted the interview, noting that Guthrie displayed a mix of "desperation and steeliness" but remained hopeful that someone with relevant information would come forward. The full interview, set for release later this week, will delve into the police investigation, Guthrie's faith, and her ability to find joy despite the circumstances.
In February, the Guthrie family donated $500,000 to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, expressing hope that the attention given to their case would extend to other families in need of prayers and support. According to the US Justice Department's missing-persons database, 33 families in Arizona are awaiting word on loved ones reported missing in the past year, with six, including Nancy Guthrie, from Pima County.
Source: www.bbc.com