Pastor of Savannah Guthrie Discusses the Disappearance of Her Mother, Nancy
Savannah Guthrie‘s pastor has spoken out amidst the ongoing search for her mother, Nancy Guthrie.
Pastor Michael Rudzena shared his connection with the family on the Today show, informing Hoda Kotb on February 10 that Nancy had frequented his church, Good Shepherd New York, over the years, and had been watching his services remotely since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
“She’s a strong woman and she is fiercely loving,” Rudzena expressed about his interactions with Nancy, 84, prior to her unsettling disappearance.
Kotb, in turn, referred to Rudzena’s church as “a sacred place for both Savannah and her mom.” The pastor conveyed a message of hope for those rallying around Savannah, 54, and her family during this difficult time.
“Leaving the door open for hope is a way to combat that sense of fatality or despair. It’s that feeling we all encounter when bad things happen; despair can cloud our minds and hearts,” he remarked. “Prayer serves as a channeling of those feelings toward God, with the expectation that God will guide us through to better times. And that’s the essence of faith.”
Rudzena also reflected on the search for Nancy, stating, “I think we all understand that dark experiences can be overwhelming, and when we think of Nancy, our hearts go out to her.”
He concluded, “We don’t know what we don’t know, yet we understand that light shines through dark times—it’s that light that leads us out. The imagery of a guiding light is potent, and our hope is that God serves as that guiding light for her right now.”
Earlier this month, news surfaced that Nancy had been reported missing in Arizona. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos stated in a press conference that Nancy had “no cognitive issues at all.”
“She’s very alert and of sound mind,” he confirmed, while also noting that Nancy is “not in good” physical health. “I hope we find her safe and sound, but we can’t disregard the facts.”
Authorities reported “concerning circumstances found at the home,” and the homicide team was brought in as search efforts remained ongoing.
Savannah’s family later released a statement declaring, “We can confirm this is a missing persons case, and the family is collaborating closely with local law enforcement.”
Sheinelle Jones and Craig Melvin addressed Nancy’s disappearance during a broadcast of Today in Savannah’s absence.
“We want to get right to what is a deeply personal story for us,” Melvin, 46, noted. “Nancy Guthrie, Savannah’s beloved mother, has been reported missing in Arizona.”
The duo also read an additional statement from Savannah regarding her mother’s situation.
“On behalf of our family, I want to extend our gratitude for all the thoughts, prayers, and messages of support,” the statement read. “Currently, our focus is on the safe return of our dear mom. We appreciate law enforcement’s diligent work on this case and urge anyone with information to reach out to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.”
Nanos later confirmed to Us Weekly that Nancy’s disappearance was being treated as a crime, as evidence suggested she may have been taken while asleep.
“Something unusual occurred at the house that raised our suspicions; it seemed out of place,” he remarked earlier this month. “We are pulling out all the stops and exploring every angle. Our hope is that it remains a search-and-rescue mission and we find her safe and sound. However, we must confront the reality before us.”
Authorities subsequently began investigating multiple alleged ransom letters, including one demanding $6 million in Bitcoin. Savannah and her siblings have provided updates while addressing their mother’s captors.
“We received your message, and we understand,” Savannah said in a video on February 7, holding hands with her siblings Annie and Camron. “We urge you now to return our mother to us, so we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will find peace. This is invaluable to us, and we are willing to pay.”
Most recently, Savannah shared another video statement pleading for her missing mother’s safe return just hours before the latest ransom deadline, stating on February 9, “We believe our mom is still out there. We are in an hour of desperation.”
