Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of NBC's "Today," has issued a new video plea six months after her 84-year-old mother, Nancy, was abducted from her Tucson, Arizona, home. The message, addressed to an unspecified party, urges them to "make the right choice" and help bring the situation to a close. This marks the seventh public appeal from Guthrie since her mother's disappearance on February 1.
During the nearly six-month investigation, Guthrie has expressed the possibility that her mother may no longer be alive, stating a desperate wish for her body to be returned for a Christian burial. In the recent video, she also acknowledged the possibility that the person responsible may have "tried to do things the right way."
NBC correspondent Erin McLaughlin reported on Tuesday that the timing of the new message could indicate a response to a potential new line of communication. The plea comes after earlier appeals, including a tearful on-air request last month for anyone with information to come forward, with Guthrie stating, "somebody knows something."
Law enforcement officials continue to work the case. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos expressed optimism about resolving the case, citing the ongoing analysis of DNA and video evidence. The FBI has previously stated that several ransom notes were received, with some deemed illegitimate extortion attempts while others remain under investigation as potentially legitimate.
Guthrie previously indicated in March that she believed two ransom notes received by the family in February were genuine. She directly appealed to those holding her mother, stating, "We beg you now to return our mother to us, so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay."
NBC News reported last month that at least one of the notes suggested Nancy had died of heart failure shortly after her abduction. These notes were sent to both TMZ and KOLD-TV, a Tucson station.
In response to the ongoing investigation and lack of major updates, Guthrie posted an image last month with the caption "Bring her home." She reiterated on Monday, "Nothing about our situation has changed. We have done our part. We will never stop looking for her."
The Guthrie family is offering a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to Nancy's return. As of Tuesday, there are still no suspects identified in the case, according to local police and the FBI.
Mclaughlin's report on "Today" also featured reactions from NBC News Senior Washington Correspondent Hallie Jackson and "Today" host Sheinelle Jones, with Jackson noting it was a story "very close to our hearts."