Craig Melvin’s Heartfelt Reaction to Savannah Guthrie’s Mother’s Abduction Story

This morning on the Today Show, host Craig Melvin appeared visibly moved as he shared a heartfelt appeal from his colleague, Savannah Guthrie, regarding the abduction of her mother, Nancy. The emotional segment took a different turn from the usual morning routine, as Melvin introduced a video message from Guthrie and her siblings, pleading for their mother’s safe return.

Appearing solemn, Melvin addressed the audience on Thursday, sharing that Guthrie, who is typically seen at the anchor desk, had a very personal and urgent message to convey. “Most days, of course, Savannah greets you right here from this desk, but this morning, our dear friend has a very different message,” he announced.

In the video shared on Instagram, Guthrie, along with her siblings Annie and Camron, directly appealed to their mother’s abductor, urging them to let Nancy come home. This direct plea underscored the family’s desperation and hope for a resolution.

Before presenting the video in full, Melvin took a moment, looking down at the anchor desk, and prepared the audience for the poignant message. “We want to play that video for you right now, in its entirety,” he said, ensuring viewers understood the gravity of the situation.

‘We want to play that video for you right now, in it’s entirety,’ Melvin said, before looking down an the anchor desk. 

Nancy, 84, was last seen by her family at her house near Tucson, Arizona, on Saturday night and was reported missing the following afternoon, with authorities believing she was taken from her home against her will.

During the video, Savannah said: ‘On behalf of our family, we want to thank all of you for the prayers for our beloved mum, Nancy. We feel them and we continue to believe that she feels them too.’

Today opened with Nancy’s disappearance Thursday for a fourth day in a row, but Guthrie was not at the anchor’s desk. 

NBC Sports said Tuesday that she will not be covering the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics ‘as she focuses on being with her family during this difficult time.’ 

Today Show host Craig Melvin was visibly emotional this morning as she shared Savannah Guthrie’s desperate plea for the return of her abducted mother Nancy

Savannah Guthrie poses alongside her mother Nancy Guthrie during a production break whilst hosting NBC’s Today Show live from Australia at Sydney Opera House on May 4, 2015 in Sydney, Australia

Investigators said Nancy’s $1 million home in Tucson, Arizona (pictured on Tuesday) showed signs of forced entry, and forensic teams found blood inside the property 

The Today show host appeared emotional during the recording, with her voice cracking as she looked in the camera and addressed the alleged kidnappers.

She said: ‘She is 84 years old, her health, her heart is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive. She needs it not to suffer.’

She went on to describe her mother as a ‘kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light’, and said she was funny, spunky and clever. 

Guthrie was at times emotional during the recording, with her voice cracking. She smiled and looked into the camera when addressing her mother directly, saying that the family was praying for her and that people were looking for her.

‘Mommy, if you are hearing this, you are a strong woman. You are God´s precious daughter,’ she said.

Guthrie described her mother as a ‘kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light’ and said she was funny, spunky and clever.

‘Talk to her and you’ll see,’ she said.

Guthrie was flanked by her sister Annie and her brother Camron who both also spoke. Annie called their mother their beacon and said they need her.

‘Mamma, If you’re listening, we need you to come home. We miss you,’ Annie Guthrie said.

Officials say Nancy, 84, (with Savannah in 2020) is frail and has poor mobility, and suffers from a condition that requires her to take medication daily 

Pima County Sheriff’s deputies on February 4, 2026 walk through the driveway of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie’s home her disappearance

Nancy has limited mobility, and officials do not believe she left on her own. A sheriff’s dispatcher talking to deputies during a search Sunday indicated that she has high blood pressure, a pacemaker and heart issues.

There were also signs of forced entry at the home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood, a dispatcher said. 

Multiple media organizations reported receiving purported ransom notes Tuesday that they handed over to investigators. The Pima County sheriff’s department had said it was taking the notes and other tips seriously but declined to comment further. 

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.