To the public eye, Savannah Guthrie is a news anchor from Arizona who has been delivering daily news to the U.S. via The Today Show since 2012. However, underneath her shimmering white teeth, bright red lipstick, and elegant purple dress lies a reality that is far less superficial—a tragic news story, and one with her at the center. Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, has been missing for over three weeks. And it seems the search is futile. 

As of February 24, Savannah Guthrie has been drowning for 24 days in the depths of sorrow as she anxiously awaits news about her mother. In an Instagram post made on February 24, she mournfully expressed her grief: “Every hour, and minute, and second, and every long night has been agony since then, of worrying about her, and fearing for her, and aching for her, and most of all, just missing her.”

Nancy Guthrie has three children—Annie, Camron, and Savannah. Her husband, Charles, passed away at only 49-years-old while on a mining trip in Mexico. But what exactly happened? 

On the night of February 1, Nancy Guthrie was taken from her bed to a currently unknown location, according to ABC News. The kidnapper has not yet revealed his identity to the Guthrie family, but has consistently claimed he would bring the 84-year-old woman home if they agreed to pay a ransom. Desperate, the Guthries agreed to the demanding ultimatum. In a video clip shared across social media, Savannah Guthrie addressed the suspect, asking that her mother be returned and stating that the family would pay. Despite this, their mother is nowhere to be found. 

On February 23, ABC News, via the FBI, released images of the suspected man behind the crime. In these photos, the suspect is fitted in a casual jacket, winter pants, and a mysterious mask; one that covers such a wide portion of his face that it is nearly impossible to discern his identity. However, a similar man—this time without a backpack—had appeared at the door just a day prior to Nancy Guthrie’s abduction. Authorities have attempted to capitalize on this information, but have failed to make significant progress in their search. According to ABC News, “the suspect approached the door the first time, noticed the camera and was scared off, only to return later, when he is seen tampering with the device and putting branches in front of the lens.”

If this were to be correct, it would explain the cryptic sighting of a man at the Guthries’ door a day earlier. However, law enforcement authorities, as well as the FBI, declined to respond to such a speculation.

Although a mass search party consisting of highly qualified officials has sought to bring Nancy Guthrie back to her family, the suspect has exemplified a puzzling strategy. Assuming that the man present at the Guthries’ door a day before her kidnapping and the actual culprit are the same person, the abductor had been well-prepared. He visited the location prior to the crime to study its composition and execute the action as smoothly as possible. Not only has he taken Nancy Guthrie from her home, but he has also gone so far as to communicate with the family, demanding ransom; still, authorities fail to identify him. 

On February 24, according to The New York Times, Savannah Guthrie announced via social media that she is offering a $1 million reward for any advice that could help her and her siblings get closer to locating their mother.

“Please keep praying without ceasing; we still believe in a miracle. We are blowing on the emperors of hope,” she said in the Instagram post. 

But words can only do so much, and the search is becoming fruitless. Where is Nancy Guthrie?