NBC commenced its coverage of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics with a poignant tribute to Savannah Guthrie, who was notably absent from her co-hosting role due to her mother’s disappearance. During the February 6 broadcast from Milan, correspondents Terry Gannon and Mary Carillo expressed the network’s collective support for Guthrie, emphasizing her importance to the team and sending prayers to her and her family.
Guthrie withdrew from the Olympics assignment to be with her family in Arizona after her mother, Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing on February 1. Nancy was last seen at her Tucson home on the evening of January 31, and when she failed to attend church the next morning, her children alerted authorities. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department quickly deemed the disappearance suspicious, declaring her home a crime scene and suggesting she may have been abducted against her will.
Investigators have been exploring all angles, including the possibility of kidnapping. A ransom note demanding billions in Bitcoin was reported by media outlets, though its authenticity is under scrutiny. FBI special agents are involved in the case, and a $50,000 reward has been offered for information leading to Nancy’s recovery or the arrest of those responsible. Authorities have collected DNA evidence from the scene and are urging the public to come forward with any tips.
In response, Savannah Guthrie, along with her brother Camron and sister Annie, has made public appeals for their mother’s safe return. In emotional video messages posted to social media, they described Nancy’s fragile health and need for medication, pleading with potential captors to provide proof of life. The family has expressed readiness to communicate but emphasized the need for verification in an era of digital manipulation.
The NBC community has rallied around Guthrie during this difficult time. On the “Today” show, co-hosts like Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager shared their support, with Kotb noting the team’s closeness and helplessness. Guthrie’s replacement for the Olympics, Mary Carillo, highlighted Guthrie’s love for the Games and assured her that she has an extended family at NBC.
The investigation is ongoing, with law enforcement treating it as a high-priority case. Sheriff Chris Nanos of Pima County has stated that while there is no immediate threat to the public, the circumstances are highly unusual and concerning. The FBI’s involvement indicates the seriousness with which the disappearance is being taken, given the high profile of the Guthrie family.
This personal tragedy has inevitably impacted NBC’s Olympics coverage, adding a somber note to the celebratory event. It underscores how public figures navigate private crises under intense scrutiny. As the search for Nancy Guthrie continues, the focus remains on her safe return, with hopes that the combined efforts of authorities and the community will bring resolution.
