A close friend of Savannah Guthrie believes the Today Show anchor’s emotional public appeal could make a difference in the search for her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, who was abducted from her Tucson home over the weekend.
Retired local television journalist Lupita Murillo described Guthrie’s nearly four-minute long Instagram video as “heartbreaking.” (Lupita Murillo/Facebook, Savannah Guthrie/Instagram)Speaking to the Daily Mail, retired local television journalist Lupita Murillo described Guthrie’s nearly four-minute long Instagram video as “heartbreaking”, suggesting it may have triggered memories or tips that investigators are still missing.
“I think it’s going to create something,” Murillo said when talking about the decision to go public. “It was definitely the hardest thing he’s ever had to do. And it was… it was very impactful.”
‘This is how cases break’Murillo, a longtime Tucson TV personality who retired in 2024, first worked with Guthrie in the 1990s while an anchor at NBC affiliate KVOA. He also knew Nancy Guthrie, who worked as a public information officer at the station in the 1980s.
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Drawing on decades of reporting experience, Murillo told the Daily Mail that public appeals from family members often provide a turning point in serious crime investigations.
“As a reporter, every time a family member has gone public, people have felt their pain and wanted to help,” he said. “At that point, usually, someone says, ‘I know who did it.'”
‘Faith will pull him through’Murillo said the emotional weight of Guthrie’s appeal stood. He also pointed to the role of faith in helping families cope with uncertainty.
“I believe Savannah’s faith will pull her through,” Murillo said. “Nancy would do everything and help everyone. She would go above and beyond for you.”
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Nancy Guthrie, 84, is believed to have been abducted from her $1 million home in Tucson’s Catalina Hills neighborhood sometime between late Saturday night and early Sunday morning. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told the Daily Mail that he did not leave voluntarily and was likely forced from the home.
Murillo attended a candlelight vigil for Nancy held at St. Philip in the Hills Church in Tucson, where more than 300 people gathered in prayer. He described the atmosphere as heavy with sadness but united with hope.
“People just wanted to support the family and let them know we care,” she said.
