The man accused of confronting "Today" co-host Craig Melvin at NBC's Rockefeller Center studios has a criminal record spanning at least two decades, including charges of attempted kidnapping and multiple probation violations.
Andrew Truelove, 41, was arrested last week after allegedly entering an unauthorized area near Studio 1A and confronting Melvin. Security personnel intervened, and police took him into custody. The "Today" show confirmed the incident and stated they are cooperating with the NYPD investigation.
"An individual entered an unauthorized area in a vestibule near Studio 1A," a "Today" spokesperson said in a statement. "The person approached anchor Craig Melvin, who alerted security. The individual was detained and taken into custody by law enforcement without further incident. There was no altercation, and no one was injured."
Footage from the morning of the incident shows a man resembling Truelove in the background of the show as early as 8:03 a.m. He was seen multiple times until 8:34 a.m., during which actress Anne Hathaway was a guest.
According to the NYPD, Truelove confronted Melvin with a racial slur in a private area of the building. Authorities initially indicated he was looking for Al Roker when he encountered Melvin instead. Truelove faces felony burglary and misdemeanor menacing charges, classified as hate crimes, in connection with the incident.
Truelove's criminal history includes a conviction in October 2007 for attempted abduction of an 8-year-old in Norfolk, Virginia. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with six suspended, followed by 10 years of probation. Court records from Virginia show he also faced charges of trespassing, destruction of property, making bomb threats, and multiple probation violations. In 2023, he served 90 days for a property destruction case, and in 2014, he was arrested on charges of stealing signs from memorials for Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims.
New York court records indicate Truelove has additional pending cases, including alleged assault, trespassing, and reckless endangerment charges from earlier this year, as well as a 12-count indictment for criminal mischief from the previous year. He is currently being held on $10,000 bail.
A psychiatrist had testified that Truelove had symptoms of bipolar disorder and had stopped taking medication prior to the 2007 incident, according to The Virginian-Pilot. Jail records list Truelove as approximately 6 feet tall and 250 pounds.
Investigators have noted that Truelove has no known connection to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie in Arizona, despite some online speculation. The physical description of the masked intruder seen on Guthrie's home security footage does not match Truelove's description.
Truelove is scheduled to return to court on Wednesday.