Savannah Guthrie made a brief reference to her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, during Thursday’s edition of NBC’s “Today” show, seven months after the 84-year-old disappeared from her Arizona home, prompting speculation among viewers.
The comment came as Savannah Guthrie and her fellow “Today” show hosts announced plans to travel to Ireland for a special live broadcast in October. Guthrie spoke about her family’s Irish roots and her connection to the city of Galway through her mother.
“I’ve never been to Ireland, my mother’s family w-, my mother was Irish, her grandmother,” the host said during the broadcast. “They were from Galway.”
Savannah Guthrie’s reference to her mother in the past tense drew attention because there has been no public confirmation of her death, and the investigation into her disappearance remains active.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the evening of Jan. 31 at her home in Tucson, Arizona. She was reported missing the following day after she failed to show up for church services.
Authorities believe she was abducted, or otherwise taken against her will, citing signs of forced entry, damaged security cameras, and DNA evidence found on her porch.
The case drew national attention, with the Guthrie family making repeated public pleas for anyone with information about what happened or her whereabouts to come forward, even anonymously.
“Please keep praying without ceasing,” Savannah Guthrie told followers in an Instagram video on Feb. 24. “We still believe. We still believe in a miracle. We still believe that she can come home. … We are blowing on the embers of hope.”
“We also know that she may be lost,” she continued. “She may already be gone. She may have already gone home to the Lord that she loves and is dancing in Heaven with her mom and her dad and with her beloved brother Pierce and with our daddy.”
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department reaffirms the investigation remains active and ongoing, with investigators and FBI agents continuing to pursue leads.
Authorities say DNA and video evidence are still being analyzed with the assistance of laboratories across the country, while new tips continue to be received and reviewed. The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information that could help lead to her recovery.
The sheriff’s department has said that any significant development will be made public, and officials remain committed to finding Nancy Guthrie and providing answers to her family.
