Initial reports suggested that members of a local Arizona church first alerted the Guthrie family to Nancy's absence, but this has since been clarified
Savannah Guthrie/Instagram
NEED TO KNOW
- New details have come to light surrounding the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy
- Despite initial reporting that a member of Nancy’s local Arizona church alerted the family to her absence, new reporting shares that Nancy was not expected to attend an in-person service
- Instead, she was supposed to meet up with neighbors to watch a virtual service from Savannah’s New York church, Good Shepherd
More than a week into the search for Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, new information has come to light about events on the morning of Sunday, Feb. 1, which first alerted the Guthrie family to the fact that the 84-year-old was missing.
Despite it originally being reported that the family was called when Nancy failed to show up to a local church service, it has since been confirmed that, since the COVID pandemic, Nancy actually met with a group of friends in her Arizona neighborhood to watch a virtual service from Savannah’s New York church, Good Shepherd.
When Nancy didn’t attend the regularly scheduled viewing and couldn’t be reached, her friends contacted her daughter, Annie, who had been with her the night before for dinner.
Pastor Michael Rudzena issued a call to prayer for the Good Shepherd congregation on Monday evening, writing, “The Good Shepherd community continues to pray faithfully for our parishioner Nancy's safe return and calls on everyone to offer their faith and love through prayer at this time.”
Good Shepherd New York
Sharing his words with PEOPLE, Rudzena said, “Like many of our digital parishioners, Nancy began tuning in virtually to Good Shepherd services during the pandemic and later continued to gather with friends to watch and worship. Over the years, in person and online, Nancy shared encouragements that gave us a window into the Bible readings and songs that are especially meaningful to her faith.”
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The Good Shepherd church also held a vigil for Nancy on Feb. 4, which was live-streamed and attended in person by Savannah’s co-workers Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager.
Bush Hager detailed the emotional event during the Feb. 5 episode of her show, Today with Jenna & Sheinelle.
“As I was watching that with Mila, who is old enough to know what's happening, and my husband, I just had my arm around my little girl, and she kept saying, 'It's going to be okay, Mommy,' ” Bush Hager said of her 12-year-old daughter, whom she shares with husband, Henry Hager.
Savannah remains in Arizona with her family as the Guthries continue their pleas for Nancy’s safe return. On Monday, Savannah posted a new video asking for the public’s help and choosing not to acknowledge her mother’s presumed abductor or alleged ransom note as she has in past videos.
"We believe our mom is still out there," Savannah said. "We need your help. Law enforcement is working tirelessly around the clock, trying to bring her home, trying to find her. She was taken and we don’t know where. And we need your help."
Savannah Guthrie/Instagram
Authorities have not named any official suspects or persons of interest in the case, urging members of the public to come forward with any information.
The FBI is urging anyone with tips or leads to call 1-800-CALL-FBI in addition to the Pima County Sheriff’s Office number, 520-351-4900.
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