NBC broadcaster Mike Tirico said his heart is breaking for his colleague, Savannah Guthrie, whose 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, was reported missing from her Arizona residence Sunday.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said at a news conference they believe Nancy was taken from her Tucson home against her will in a “possible kidnapping or abduction” Saturday night.
“First and foremost, my heart’s breaking, our hearts break,” Tirico said while talking to reporters ahead of Super Bowl 2026 between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots this Sunday.
“It’s been a pit in the stomach for 36 hours since we found out. I just can’t believe the situation.
“[I was] lucky enough to work multiple Olympics with Savannah and get to know the ‘Today’ show team… I just hold those people in the highest professional [and] personal regard. What you see on the set of the ‘Today’ show is real. Those people are special people. We are just heartbroken and devastated and praying for Savannah and her entire family during this difficult time.
“… Obviously, this is a time for caring about the people in your family and we are holding Savannah near and dear to our heart and we are praying for all of them. If you do pray, please include them. They’re special people and nobody should be going through something like this.”
The “Today” show co-anchor will no longer host the 2026 Winter Olympics ceremony in Milan on Friday, an NBC spokesperson said.
Guthrie was set to depart for Italy this week to co-host with Terry Gannon before the tragic set of events.
Tirico is set to cover his fifth Olympics after calling Super Bowl 2026 on Sunday and will serve as one of NBC’s primetime hosts.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said DNA samples taken from Nancy’s home have not resulted in anything “indicating the suspect.”
There were droplets of blood on the ground outside of Nancy’s front door, as seen in videos released from the crime scene.
“We know she was harmed at the home, but we don’t know to what extent,” Nanos said.
Two reports of ransom notes were sent to news organizations referencing Nancy on Tuesday.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office said it is working with the FBI in a statement.
“We are aware of reports circulating about possible ransom note(s) regarding the investigation into Nancy Guthrie,” the statement read.
“We are taking all tips and leads very seriously. Anything that comes in, goes directly to our detectives who are coordinating with the FBI.”
Nancy is described as 5-foot-5, weighing 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.
She needs to take medication daily or “it could be fatal,” Nanos previously said, adding that she has no cognitive issues.
“She is very limited in her mobility, we know she didn’t just walk out of there,” Nanos said. “There were other things at the scene that indicate that she did not leave on her own.”
Law enforcement authorities said Tommaso Cioni — who’s married to Savannah’s sister, Annie — was the last one with Nancy before her abduction.
