Savannah Guthrie’s Tearful Plea to Mother’s Kidnapper May Open New Line of Communication: Report

Savannah Guthrie’s emotional appeal on Monday could point to what NBC described as a possible “new line of communication,” arriving more than 25 weeks after her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, disappeared from her Arizona home.

In a heartfelt message posted to Instagram, Guthrie said her family remains “in agony” and vowed they “will never stop looking for her.” NBC correspondent Erin McLaughlin reported Tuesday that the timing of the public plea may be tied to a fresh development in communication around the case.

“It’s not clear why Savannah decided to release this message now, but it could be a response to a potential new line of communication. Experts say the language appears to be pointed at whoever committed the crime, though law enforcement have not provided any public updates in the investigation recently,” McLaughlin said.

Speaking directly in the video, Guthrie urged the person responsible for her mother’s disappearance to “do the right thing now.”

“Make the right choice. Help us find her. Tell us where to look for her,” Guthrie said. “I’m coming on today with a very specific message. It has been months since our mom was taken from us. Our family is in agony. We are in a nightmare that will not end. Nothing about our situation has changed. We have done our part, and we will never stop looking for her. We will always ache for her and feel that hole in our hearts. The world can be a cruel and unforgiving place,” she continued. “I truly believe it is never too late to do right thing. Help us bring this situation to an end. For all of us. No matter where we’ve been and what we’ve done, I believe there is always a way home. Please make the right choice.”

Guthrie was absent from Tuesday’s broadcast of the “Today” show while working on NBC’s upcoming prime-time game show, “Wordle.” She previously addressed her position in June, saying, “I’m not involved in our coverage, but I can’t pretend I’m not here.”

MORE STORY: Ryan Reynolds Blacklist Rumors: Insiders Reveal Why Hollywood Hasn’t Turned on Him

A federal source close to the Nancy Guthrie investigation told Fox News that Savannah Guthrie was in communication with law enforcement about the video, which was her first message in weeks.

The family is asking anyone with information to dial 1-800-CALL-FBI and claim a reward of over $1 million. 

A separate reward is available for information leading to an arrest, and tips can be submitted anonymously through Tucson’s Crime Stoppers affiliate at 520-88-CRIME.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, was taken from her Catalina Foothills home in Tucson in the early morning hours of Feb. 1, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said.

No suspects have been identified publicly.

Jason Pack, a retired FBI agent, told INC News Savannah Guthrie’s wording stood out to him, but cautioned that only investigators have the full picture:

1. For six months, the family asked for a person, in phrases like “bring her home” and “return her to us,” Pack said. This week, Savannah Guthrie said, “Tell us where to look for her.” According to Pack, “where to look is not the same as bring her back,” though he stressed he would not speculate on what the shift means.
2. In February, the family cast wide on purpose, addressing “whoever has her, or knows where she is,” Pack said. This week’s message reads as if written toward a single person, he said, pointing to the line, “I know that you have tried to do things the right way.” Six months in, Pack said, the family “may believe they know more about who is listening.”
3. Pack said he kept returning to the phrase “We have done our part,” calling it five words with no accusation in them. He described it as landing “like a receipt,” a statement that the family had held up its end.
4. Every prior appeal carried an action item, whether the reward or the anonymous tip line, Pack said. This one asks the public to “tell us,” meaning the family directly. “That is a departure,” he said, “and departures are worth marking.”