After taking time off to be with her family amid her mother Nancy Guthrie<\/a>\u2019s disappearance, Savannah Guthrie<\/a> returned to the Today <\/em>anchor desk on April 6, 2026. Since her return, however, she\u2019s missed several broadcasts<\/a>, including the June 17 episode.<\/p>\n Viewers immediately noticed Savannah\u2019s spot was empty at the start of Today<\/em>, with co-anchor Craig Melvin beginning the show without her. He addressed the inevitable curiosity right away, clarifying that Savannah\u2019s currently \u201con assignment\u201d and would not be on the show. Sheinelle Jones, the co-host of Today with Jenna & Sheinelle<\/em>, stepped in for Savannah while she was away.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Savannah\u2019s most recent Today <\/em>absence follows reports that the motive for Nancy\u2019s alleged kidnapping<\/a> has finally been identified. On June 13, former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer took to X<\/a> and revealed a major breakthrough in Nancy\u2019s case. \u201cIt\u2019s the biggest public break in Nancy\u2019s Case, as CertiK, arguably the leading crypto security company in the world, has designated Nancy\u2019s abduction as a wrench attack by proxy,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n According to TRM Labs<\/a>, a wrench attack refers to a \u201csituation where physical force or intimidation is used to compel a victim to surrender access to their cryptocurrency holdings.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe term originates from a webcomic illustrating that, regardless of sophisticated encryption, an attacker could simply threaten someone with a wrench to obtain their password,\u201d they continued. \u201cIn the crypto context, this translates to criminals bypassing digital security by targeting individuals directly, often through physical violence or threats of violence.\u201d<\/p>\n Related: Nancy Guthrie Suspect Expected to \u2018Come Clean\u2019 as Case Reaches Pivotal 4-Month Mark: \u2018People Start to Crack\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Coffindaffer also posted a screenshot from CertiK, which read, \u201cThe 84-year-old mother of journalist Savannah Guthrie<\/a> was kidnapped as part of a $6 million bitcoin ransom demand, illustrating the documented trend of proxy target selection already identified in our 2025 report.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoes CertiK have knowledge as to if Savannah has a Bitcoin account?\u201d she said, adding, \u201cThis is a huge breakthrough. Times have changed. And how these networks operate is new to LE [law enforcement]. Unless LE knows who took Nancy, then a wrench by proxy is on the table. CertiK seems to know,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n This all comes after the Mexican missing person search group Buscando Corazones reported receiving an anonymous tip claiming Guthrie\u2019s remains were buried in an unmarked grave<\/a> near the Mexican border. <\/p>\n On June 11, group leader Ramona Guadalupe Ayala Ortiz told El Imparcial<\/a><\/em> that they received the tip just a day earlier, on June 10, and began searching for Guthrie right away. <\/p>\n \u201cWe received an anonymous call telling us that the woman\u2019s remains were in the Mariposa area in a grave over a stream,\u201d Ayala Ortiz said, \u201cand this time we came to explore this stream that we failed to explore in the first intervention.\u201d<\/p>\n Later that same day, the Pima County Sheriff\u2019s Department issued a statement<\/a> clarifying they had not been in touch with Mexican authorities about the tip or search efforts. \u201cWe are aware of reports regarding an anonymous tip related to the Nancy Guthrie<\/a> investigation that was provided to a group in Mexico,\u201d Sheriff Chris Nanos said on X. \u201cAt this time, we have not been contacted by Mexican authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis investigation remains active and ongoing, and we will continue to follow up on any credible information,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Nancy](\"https:\/\/stylecaster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/nancy-guthrie-flowers.jpg?w=300&h=168&crop=1\")
<\/div>\n