Australian-born television presenter Savannah Guthrie has resumed hosting duties on NBC’s Today show, saying it’s “good to be back.”
Guthrie has been absent from her role since January 30, two days before her 84-year-old mother Nancy was reported missing.
Her co-anchors noted on Monday that a crowd of supporters were outside the New York studios with signs welcoming Guthrie back.
“I’m really feeling the love,” she told everyone.
Before giving his typical weather report, Al Roker blew Guthrie a kiss and said: “It’s good to see you my dear.”
The 54-year-old wore a bright yellow dress, which NBC said was a tribute to the yellow ribbons and flowers left at her mother’s Arizona home.
Savannah Guthrie officially returns to work
Last month, Guthrie said it was “part of my purpose right now” to return to New York for her job, despite feeling unsure she would be able to.
“I can’t not come back. This is my family,” she said.
On Sunday, Guthrie reaffirmed her Christian faith in an Easter video message from a church in New York.
“I still believe. And so I say with conviction, ‘Happy Easter’,” she said at the end of the Easter Sunday service at Good Shepherd New York.
Left: Savannah Guthrie and her mum Nancy. Image: NBC. Right: The Guthrie family made an emotional plea in a video in February. Image: Instagram
The search for Nancy Guthrie continues
Nancy Guthrie was dropped off at her home in Tucson, Arizona, by family on the evening of 31 January, then failed to appear for church the next morning.
Investigators believe Nancy was taken against her will from her home, but there has been little progress in the case.
One major breakthrough that did happen was when veteran journalist Brian Entin discovered blood that the police had missed.
Speaking exclusively to Mediaweek, Entin talked about his time looking for Nancy, and the incredible find one day when the police had removed the crime-scene tape, and the team knocked on her door.
“One of our photographers actually shot the video of Nancy’s front steps,” he said.
Blood discovered at Nancy Guthrie’s front door. Image: Brian Entin
“We realised the crime scene tape was down and wanted to knock on the door to see if anyone was home. It was shocking when we realised there was still blood on the front steps.”
Entin revealed to the world that there was a trail of blood at Nancy’s door, with his team obtaining disturbing footage of it.
“I can’t remember another time we discovered something quite like this.”
Unfortunately, the discovery confirmed suspicions that Nancy had been removed from her home forcefully, but it has not yet led to identification of any persons involved.
The Guthrie family is offering a $1 USD million reward, in addition to $100,000 pledged by the FBI, for information leading to Nancy’s return.
Top image: Savannah Guthrie returns to host TODAY. Image: NBC