NBC Today reveals why Savannah Guthrie shared new video praising her mom Nancy’s kidnapper six months on from abduction that shocked the world

The Today team addressed Savannah Guthrie’s sudden plea for her mother’s whereabouts on Tuesday.

NBC correspondent Erin McLaughlin reported the Monday message may have been in response to a new line of communication.

The video showed Guthrie, 54, urging an unspecified party to ‘make the right choice’ and ‘help us bring this situation to an end.’ Guthrie has previously conceded that her 84-year-old mother may no longer be alive and that if that is the case she is desperate for her body to be returned for a Christian burial. 

McLaughlin framed the footage as Guthrie ‘speaking directly to the person responsible for kidnapping her mom, Nancy.’

She noted how it was the seventh public appeal from the star in the ‘nearly six months’ since the search began. Nancy, 84, was taken from her home in Tucson, Arizona, on February 1.

Footage of Guthrie acknowledging that ‘the world can be a cruel and unforgiving place’ and insisting, ‘I know you have tried to do things the right way’ followed.

A clip of the anchor tearfully begging people to come forward on-air last month was also played. Guthrie told her team at the time, ‘somebody knows something.’

‘Now, Savannah sending a message,’ said McLaughlin, as more snippets played.

The correspondent went on to offer an ‘overnight’ update from the Pima County Sheriff, Chris Nanos, who appeared on-screen to say, ‘I’m still positive that we’re going to resolve this case.’

‘We have so much DNA to sort through. We have so much in terms of video evidence to look at,’ the local sheriff said.

The most recent statement from the FBI was displayed as well, where officials last month warned that ‘they’ve received several ransom notes’, several of which were deemed illegitimate and ‘extortion attempts.

‘Other ransom demands may potentially be legitimate and are still being investigated as such,’ officials said,  adding that the case is still being treated ‘as a kidnapping for ransom case.’

McLaughlin’s segment then pivoted to footage of Guthrie telling costar Hoda Kotb that she believed ‘two ransom notes [the family] received and responded to’ in February were ‘real’ back in March. 

‘Now, Savannah making it clear she hasn’t given up hope,’ McLaughlin said over more footage of Guthrie on Monday pleading, ‘So I’m asking you,  begging you, to do the right thing now.’

‘I truly believe it is never too late to do the right thing,’ the anchor said.

McLaughlin was joined by NBC News Senior Washington Correspondent Hallie Jackson and Today’s Sheinelle Jones for the report. The former framed it as ‘a story very close to our hearts.’

McLaughlin admitted: ‘It’s not clear why Savannah decided to release this message now, but it could be a response to a potential new line of communication.’

She cited ‘experts’ who said the language used by Guthrie in the footage ‘appears to be pointed at whoever committed the crime.’

The report ended with a disclaimer from McLaughlin noting that there have been no ‘major public updates in the investigation’ after more than 25 weeks.

‘Erin, thank you very much. Always thinking about Savannah and her family. We love her. And a reminder, of course, the number to call if you have any information, right here on your screen. 1-800-Call-FBI,’ Jackson added. 

Jones thanked the correspondent as well before moving on.

The Guthrie family is currently offering a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to Nancy’s return.

Guthrie’s message to social media on Monday was noticeably different from one  offered toward the star of the search, in February, around the time her family received the two ransom notes she later said she believed to be legitimate.

‘We beg you now to return our mother to us, so that we can celebrate with her,’ Guthrie told viewers at the time, speaking to them directly. 

‘This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.’

NBC News reported last month that at least one of the notes revealed Nancy had died of heart failure shortly after being taken.

The notes were sent to TMZ and KOLD-TV, a Tucson station.

After that report, Guthrie took the time to issue a statement on-air, saying ‘We’re begging for your help, and I’m not going to miss that opportunity.

‘And so please if you’re watching, no matter how small, the reward is there. You can tell us, it can be anonymous. Please do the right thing for us, for our family, for our children. We love our mom, and we’ll never stop looking for her, ever.’  

 Guthrie again insisted that her family ‘cannot be at peace, no matter how much I try to come out here every day and smile and find that joy’ amid the investigation.

Early last month, Guthrie posted an image that appeared to depict the ascension of Jesus Christ. Captioned were the words ‘Bring her home.’ 

‘Nothing about our situation has changed. We have done our part. We will never stop looking for her,’ Guthrie said on Monday.

There are still no suspects in the case, according to local police and the FBI.