Savannah Guthrie may step away from her role at NBC News again as new and distressing details emerge in the kidnapping of her mother, Nancy. The anchor's 84-year-old mother was abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of February 1. Five months into the investigation, there have been no arrests, and a recent development includes a ransom note suggesting Nancy Guthrie may be dead.
A source close to the situation told The US Sun that Savannah is "holding it together," but described the ongoing developments as "gut-wrenching" and "emotionally draining." Executives at NBC News are reportedly prepared for the possibility that Guthrie may need to take another leave of absence from the "Today" show, understanding that she might need to step away without notice. Hoda Kotb, who co-anchored with Craig Melvin during Guthrie's previous leave, is reportedly ready to step in again if needed. "This isn’t about replacing Savannah. It’s about giving her the space to focus on finding her mother," the source stated.
The investigation has recently been complicated by a new ransom note sent to TMZ from an individual claiming to have video evidence of the kidnappers and Nancy Guthrie on the day of her death. The sender claims to have a hidden phone containing video of "the main guy" with Guthrie, along with details about the two alleged kidnappers, their identities, and addresses, in exchange for a significant Bitcoin payment. This individual insisted they were not the same person who had previously provided a tip about Nancy Guthrie's burial site near the U.S.-Mexico border, a claim that led a volunteer group to conduct a fruitless search.
Federal authorities are reportedly re-examining previous evidence, including surveillance footage released by investigators. This footage shows a masked man at Nancy Guthrie's doorstep on the night of her disappearance, appearing to be armed and tampering with a security camera near the entrance.
Former FBI agent Maureen O'Connell suggested on The Megyn Kelly Show that investigators may be closing in on the suspect seen in the doorbell camera footage, believing this individual could be key to solving the case. O'Connell estimated that investigators are about 75% of the way toward identifying and arresting the suspect, indicating that "things are happening" in the investigation.