Why Savannah Guthrie has been missing from ‘Today’ show as mom Nancy probe continues
Savannah Guthrie is on a brief hiatus from the “Today” Show to spend time with her family amid the ongoing investigation into her mom Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, Page Six can confirm.
The journalist, 54, left fans worried on Thursday as she skipped the morning broadcast for the second consecutive day this week.
In her place, Laura Jarrett filled in alongside Craig Melvin this morning. Sheinelle Jones stepped up to take Guthrie’s spot on Wednesday.
Savannah first returned to the morning talk show in April, two months after her mother’s abduction took place.
At the time, a source exclusively told Page Six that staffers at the “Today” show were warned before Savannah came back to not speak on the investigation.
“It was supposed to be business as usual. [Producers] said to act totally normal,”the insider shared. “‘Move forward’ is the vibe. It’s been a hard year and a draining time.”
Nancy was abducted from her Arizona home Feb. 1. But, despite the continued efforts of the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s office, Nancy has yet to be located.
In the most recent update, Savannah opened up about the “agony and unending trauma” she and her loved ones are going through amid the devastating five-month experience so far.
“There is not a moment that goes by that we aren’t actively trying to find our mom,” she told KOLD 13 News last week.
Savannah then thanked the Tucson community “for holding her in their hearts,” as well as both the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department “for their tireless work” on the case.
In Nancy’s absence, several ransom notes have been released with demands for millions of dollars worth of bitcoin for Nancy’s safe return.
In June, Savannah notably broke down in tears on air while discussing one of the notes received in February that said her mother had died.
“A lot of people at ‘Today’ are affected by it,” says a source. “There was a sense of sadness today. Everybody just feels so bad for her. There is a lot of uncertainty.”
However, shortly before Savannah’s statement, it was reported that “none of the ransom notes” that have been received “are believed to be genuine.”
“The FBI and its task force partners have received several ransom notes over the course of this investigation. Some have been deemed to be extortion attempts without legitimacy,” the FBI said in response to the aforementioned report.
The feds went on to state that there are “other ransom demands [that] may potentially be legitimate and are still being investigated as such.”
“This case continues to be investigated as a kidnapping for ransom case. The FBI has and will continue to offer all assistance possible in the investigation — however, local authorities remain the lead.”
This story is developing…
