In a raw, tear-filled moment that stunned viewers nationwide, Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie broke down on live television during the February 3, 2026 broadcast, sharing a devastating update on the ongoing search for her 78-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing since late January.

Fighting to keep her voice steady, Savannah looked directly into the camera and said: “Police have revealed something I never wanted to face. They now believe my mother was taken against her will. This is not a voluntary disappearance. This is an abduction.” The studio fell completely silent. Co-hosts Hoda Kotb and Craig Melvin visibly struggled to hold back tears as Savannah continued: “We are doing everything we can. If anyone has seen her, if anyone knows anything… please, please come forward. She is kind, she is loved, and she needs to come home.”

Nancy Guthrie was last seen leaving her home in Tucson, Arizona, on January 26, 2026, to run a routine errand at a local pharmacy. Security footage captured her entering the store at 10:14 a.m. She never came out. Her car was discovered two days later in a nearby parking lot, keys still in the ignition, purse untouched on the passenger seat, phone powered off. No ransom demand has been made. No known enemies or financial motives have surfaced. Yet investigators say evidence from nearby businesses shows an individual approaching Nancy’s vehicle shortly after she parked — evidence they now classify as indicative of abduction.

Tucson Police Department has upgraded the case from missing person to kidnapping. A spokesperson confirmed: “We have credible evidence of foul play. We are treating this as an abduction and are following multiple active leads.” Authorities have released a composite sketch of a person of interest based on surveillance stills and witness descriptions, but have withheld further details to protect the investigation.

The news has devastated the NBC family and the millions who have watched Savannah Guthrie anchor morning news for nearly two decades. Hoda Kotb hugged Savannah on air after the segment ended. Al Roker, visibly emotional, said during a follow-up broadcast: “Savannah is carrying this unimaginable pain in front of the world while still trying to be strong for her children. We are all with her — every step.”

Savannah’s two young children — Vale, 8, and Charles, 5 — have been shielded from the media storm, but Savannah has spoken briefly about their confusion and fear. “They keep asking when Nana is coming home,” she said. “I don’t have answers yet. But I’m not giving up. I can’t give up.”

The public response has been overwhelming. A tip line established by Tucson PD has received thousands of calls. Celebrities including Jenna Bush Hager, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Hoda Kotb have shared pleas for information and messages of support. A GoFundMe launched by the family to fund private investigators and search efforts surpassed $850,000 within 72 hours, with donors leaving messages like “We love you, Savannah. We’re praying for Nancy’s safe return” and “America stands with you.”

The case has also renewed national focus on elder abduction risks, especially in retirement communities. Experts note that older adults are particularly vulnerable to targeted kidnappings during routine errands. Police are examining whether Nancy was specifically targeted or the victim of opportunity.

For Savannah Guthrie — the unflappable journalist who has covered countless tragedies with grace — this is deeply personal. She has taken indefinite leave from Today to focus on the search and her children. In her final on-air words before stepping away, she looked straight into the camera: “Mom, if you’re watching or hearing this — we love you. We’re coming for you. Please hold on.”

The nation watches, waits, and prays. A mother is missing. A daughter is searching. And the question that hangs heavy over every broadcast, every social-media post, every candlelight vigil: Who took Nancy Guthrie — and why?

As the investigation intensifies and leads are pursued, one truth remains painfully clear: no family is immune to sudden, shattering loss. And for the Guthrie family, the fight to bring Nancy home has only just begun.