Savannah Guthrie Turns Down Extra Security at ‘Today’: ‘She’s Not Giving Up Her Normal Life’

As the search for Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy Guthrie, inches closer to the four-month mark, the Today host, who just returned to her seat on April 6, has upped some of her security measures. However, a new report states that NBC offered a massive boost in personal protection, including a personal guard inside the studio, and Savannah declined.

“She wants to walk in, do her job, and not feel surrounded by fear,” one source told Rob Shuter’s Naughty But Nice Substack on Monday, April 20.

“She’s protected, but she’s not giving up her normal life. There is no private, dedicated security just for Savannah inside her office,” the source continued. “That was her decision.”

The source added that Savannah, 54, didn’t “want a bodyguard sitting outside her office or walking her through the halls” because she wants “to feel normal at work.”

Due to Nancy’s disappearance, NBC had already increased security measures, and the source claimed that just because Savannah declined the personal security offer, that doesn’t mean security hadn’t been upped.

“There is extra security at the show and throughout NBC right now,” the source explained to the outlet. “The building is locked down tighter than usual. Access is stricter than ever. No pass, no entry — no exceptions.”

The source also said that “even longtime staff are being turned away if they don’t follow protocol.”

Nancy, 84, was last seen at her home in the Catalina Foothills in Tucson, Arizona, on January 31. Her daughter, Annie Guthrie, and son-in-law Tommaso Cioni dropped her off that night, but the next morning she failed to show up to a streaming church service. A friend noticed her absence and alerted the family.

Since then, there have been few major developments in the case, but Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos previously said that he did believe it was a “targeted abduction.” Savannah has made multiple pleas, asking the suspects to bring her mother home. The family has also offered up to $1 million in reward money, but to no avail.

People with any information regarding the case are asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). You may also contact your local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or you can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.