'It's Because of Me': Savannah Guthrie Speaks Out on Possible Motive in Mum Nancy's Kidnapping

Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of NBC's Today show, gave her first on-air interview since her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, was reported missing from her home in Tucson, Arizona on 1 February 2026. Authorities have treated the case as a suspected abduction after finding evidence at the residence and releasing surveillance images of a masked, armed individual near the property.

​In the emotional interview with Today colleague Hoda Kotb, Savannah described her family's anguish, saying the past weeks have been 'agony' and that she often awakens imagining what her mother may have endured, per Business Insider.

​Remarks on Her Public Profile

​Savannah told co-host Hoda Kotb in the emotional interview, which aired on Wednesday, 'Someone needs to do the right thing. We are in agony. We are in agony. It is unbearable.'

​She also shared waking up in the middle of the night, thinking about what her mother must be going through. She said, 'And to think of what she went through. 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,' as shared by The Guardian.

​While law enforcement has not publicly established a motive, Guthrie raised a deeply personal concern during the interview with Kotb: she acknowledged contemplating whether her own high-profile television career could have made her mother a target for ransom.

She said the idea that her fame might have played a role was 'too much to bear' and emotionally apologised to her mother. She said, 'I'm so sorry, Mommy... if it is me.'

​Authorities have not confirmed any motive either way. Investigators continue to emphasise that the case remains open, and that no arrests have been made since, although possible ransom notes have circulated and are under review by officials.

Local law enforcement has also warned the public about fraudulent fundraising campaigns falsely claiming to support the search for Nancy Guthrie, noting that no official GoFundMe or other similar campaigns have been authorised by the family.

Active Investigation Continues

​Local authorities, along with the FBI, are actively investigating Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, with surveillance footage showing a masked man near the Guthrie residence around the time she went missing.

On 24 February 2026, Savannah Guthrie announced that they are now offering a family reward of up to $1 million (£740,000) for any information that may lead to her mother's recovery via an Instagram post. No confirmed suspects have been publicly named since the investigation on her disappearance began.

​Nancy Guthrie was last seen by family on the evening of 31 January 2026, after being dropped off at her home in the Catalina Foothills. When she did not show up for a planned church service the next day, her family became alarmed. Investigators later found drops of her blood on her porch in her home, which were later confirmed as hers. This strengthened the view that she was taken against her will.

​Law enforcement has asked anyone with information, especially neighbours or local residents near Tucson, to come forward. The Pima County Sheriff's Office and the FBI continue to look into and develop leads, but so far, no breakthrough has been publicly announced.

​Insights on Savannah's Net Worth and Assets

​Savannah Guthrie has built a successful career as one of the most prominent names in broadcast journalism in the United States, and her professional achievements are reflected in her financial standing. Industry sources estimate her net worth at around $40 million (£29.9 million), largely earned through her long tenure at NBC and her role as co-anchor of the Today show, according to celebrity finance coverage from Parade.

National Today estimates Savannah's annual salary from her NBC role as $8 million (£5.9 million). In addition to her broadcast income, Guthrie's wealth is supported by book deals, speaking engagements, and other media projects tied to her public profile.

The rest of Savannah's interview is scheduled to air in two parts on the NBC Today show on Thursday and Friday.