Savannah Guthrie is determined to keep things as normal as possible as she returns to hosting, even as the search for her mother continues.
Despite the ongoing and deeply personal crisis, the veteran host is reportedly choosing not to have security accompany her at work.
Reports claim Savannah Guthrie does not want to feel surrounded by fear, which is why she is insisting on this decision.
Why Savannah Guthrie Has Rejected Having A Private Guard At Work
For most of the past three months, Savannah Guthrie was away from the “Today” show while dealing with the kidnapping of her mother, Nancy Guthrie.
She ultimately ended her hiatus and returned to work earlier in April, but is reportedly insisting that she not have personal security follow her around at the studio.
The TV host’s rejection is said to have come after her employer, NBC, offered her round-the-clock protection, including a dedicated guard inside the studio.
But rather than accepting the gesture, Savannah reportedly chose to reject it so as to feel normal at work, even as she continues to grapple with the unresolved disappearance of her mother.
“She doesn’t want a bodyguard sitting outside her office or walking her through the halls,” a source told Rob Shuter’s “Naughty But Nice” Substack about Savannah’s wishes. “She wants to feel normal at work” and not “surrounded by fear.”
The TV Host Remains Protected At Her Job Despite Refusing To Have A Work Bodyguard
Savannah’s decision to decline a personal bodyguard has not stopped NBC from increasing security at the office for her and other staff.
While it remains unclear how much additional security has been put in place, it is reportedly well distributed around the studio to ensure a high level of safety for everyone.
“There is extra security at the show and throughout NBC right now,” one source said. “The building is locked down tighter than usual.”
Entry into the building now also requires an assigned pass, without which access is denied.
“Access is stricter than ever,” the source continued. “No pass, no entry — no exceptions.”
According to the insider, this rule holds for everyone at work, no matter how long they have been employed by the network giants.
“Even longtime staff are being turned away if they don’t follow protocol,” the source also noted. “Rules are rules right now.”
Savannah Guthrie Has Tight Security At Home
Savannah follows a different set of rules at home, where she lives with her husband, Michael Feldman, and their children, Charles and Vale.
Unlike at work, the journalist is ensuring that she and her loved ones are closely protected, especially after her mother was kidnapped from her home.
“Her off-site security is being handled,” the source said of Savannah’s home protection. “But those details are private.”
The Guthrie Family Asked That Their Mother’s Home Remain Under Surveillance
Interestingly, the mother of two was also keen about having her mother’s house protected even amid her disappearance.
As confirmed by a spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Savannah’s family requested that the department “maintain a presence at Nancy Guthrie’s residence for security purposes going forward.”
“Members of the media and the public are reminded that all traffic laws and private property laws must be followed. No trespassing is allowed on Nancy Guthrie’s property,” the spokesperson also noted, per People Magazine.
No Suspect Has Been Identified In Nancy Guthrie’s Kidnapping
Despite over 80 days passing since Nancy was kidnapped, the identities of her kidnappers, as well as her whereabouts, remain a mystery.
Initially, authorities had hoped that a door cam footage of a potential suspect who visited the Guthrie home would help move the case forward. However, the masked individual has yet to be identified, despite a public profile being released.
DNA evidence recovered from around Nancy’s home, as well as a glove suspected to have been worn by her abductors, also did not match anything in the FBI database, further deepening confusion around the case.
Amid the kidnapping, some experts have suggested it may be financially motivated, especially as several ransom notes have been sent in recent weeks. Unfortunately, none have yet been publicly confirmed as being from the octogenarian’s abductors so far.
Despite the situation, Savannah has remained hopeful that her mother will be found and has repeatedly called on members of the public to share any tips that could lead to her discovery. She has also offered a $1 million reward for any credible information, which is separate from the $100,000 reward being offered by the FBI.