US news anchor Savannah Guthrie makes emotional plea for kidnapped mother’s safe return

NBC “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie made a tearful public appeal to kidnappers Wednesday night, desperately pleading for proof that her 84-year-old mother is still alive following her abduction.

In a video posted to her social media accounts, the prominent journalist broke down as she addressed her mother’s captors directly, begging them to provide evidence that her elderly mother remains unharmed.

“Please, I’m asking you to show us that she’s okay,” Guthrie said in the emotional recording, her voice breaking. “She’s 84 years old. She’s a mother, a grandmother. Please let us know she’s alive.”

The veteran news anchor, who has been a fixture of American morning television for over a decade, did not provide specific details about when or where the kidnapping occurred, or whether authorities have made contact with the abductors.

Law enforcement officials have not yet released an official statement regarding the case, and it remains unclear whether ransom demands have been made or what circumstances led to the abduction.

Guthrie’s colleagues and supporters across the media industry have rallied around her, expressing shock and offering prayers for her mother’s safe return. Social media has been flooded with messages of support using hashtags calling for the elderly woman’s release.

The 53-year-old anchor has been absent from the “Today” show since the incident, with NBC confirming she is taking time away to focus on her family during this crisis.

Kidnappings targeting family members of high-profile public figures, while relatively rare in the United States, have occurred periodically, often motivated by ransom demands or other criminal objectives.

Authorities typically advise against publicizing such cases during active investigations, though families sometimes choose to make public appeals in hopes of generating leads or putting pressure on perpetrators.

As of Thursday morning, no updates had been provided on the condition or whereabouts of Guthrie’s mother, and the investigation remains ongoing.