Gayle King Fights Back Tears Over Savannah Guthrie’s Missing Mom Nancy

Gayle King struggled to hold back tears as she addressed the news surrounding Today host Savannah Guthrie, whose mother, Nancy Guthrie, has gone missing.

“We’re starting things a little differently this morning because like you, we’re all waking up this morning with very heavy hearts [and] praying for our friend and our colleague, Savannah Guthrie,” King, 71, said at the start of her Thursday, February 5, broadcast on CBS Mornings.

“Her mom, Nancy, is still missing at this hour and late last night, the Guthrie family went public with a very emotional message,” King continued, referring to the video shared by Savannah, 54, her sister, Annie, and her brother, Camron, to their mother, Nancy, and her potential abductor on Wednesday, February 4.

The Guthrie siblings pleaded for proof of life and said they were “ready to talk” after hearing reports about a “ransom letter in the media.” They added, “As a family, we are doing everything that we can.”

King was overcome with emotion while on-air for the Thursday morning broadcast. “We are all wishing that Nancy comes home,” she said. “It is an unimaginable situation for the Guthrie family.”

“Savannah just got to me where she says ‘mommy,’” King continued. “To hear a grown woman say, ‘Mommy, we’re all looking for you.’ Everybody’s looking for her.”

In a police update on February 4, authorities confirmed there is no suspect or person of interest at this time.

Many public figures have rallied in support of the Guthrie family, as hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil to pray for Nancy’s safe return on Wednesday night.

Nancy was last seen Saturday, January 31, at her home in Tucson, Arizona, and was reported missing the following morning after a friend noticed that she didn’t show up to her Sunday morning church service.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos exclusively shared with Us Weekly on Monday, February 2, that authorities are still hopeful it’s a “search-and-rescue mission” and that Nancy will be found “safe and sound.”

Related: Nancy Guthrie’s Home Re-Taped Off as Crime Scene Amid Trespassing Update

The home of Nancy Guthrie has been taped off as a crime scene again as the search for Today cohost Savannah Guthrie’s mother continues. “Right now — investigators are putting crime scene tape back up at Nancy Guthrie’s house,” NewsNation reporter Brian Entin wrote via X on Wednesday, February 4. “Major police presence here — […]

“This is an 84-year-old lady who is safe in her own home asleep, and she is taken,” Nanos shared with Us. “And that should never happen.”

The Pima County Sheriff labeled Nancy’s home “a crime scene” and said that authorities are following all possible leads and potential motives.

While speaking exclusively to Us, Nanos shared that Annie was the last person to see Nancy. It was noted that Annie said Nancy didn’t raise any “red flags” with her behavior prior to her disappearance. “We have a start point,” Nanos said. “The family took her home from dinner at about 9:30 to 9:45 [p.m.]. So we would back that up to even say 9 or 8:30 p.m. to start looking.”

Meanwhile, the FBI is working to authenticate a potential ransom note sent to various outlets while also analyzing cellphone data and information from nearby cell towers in addition to expediting warrants to search Nancy’s digital accounts.

“Something unusual at that house occurred that made us go, ‘Wow, something’s wrong here. Something doesn’t fit,’” Nanos told Us. “We’re gonna pull all the stops and go at all angles.”