Although Guthrie was not at the studio when the incident occurred, sources told the Daily Mail the security scare deeply affected her because of the ongoing investigation into her mother’s disappearance.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was allegedly abducted from her Tucson, Arizona, home on February 1. She has not been found, and the person suspected of taking her remains on the run.
One source told the outlet the latest incident reopened emotional wounds for the television personality.
“The timing couldn’t have been more heartbreaking,” the insider said. “How much more can one person take?”
Guthrie previously stepped away from Today for nearly two months after her mother’s disappearance before returning to the program in April.
Speaking candidly about her comeback, she admitted it was difficult to return to a show known for its upbeat atmosphere while navigating such a painful chapter in her personal life.
“It’s hard to imagine doing it because it’s such a place of joy and lightness,” Guthrie said. “I can’t come back and try to be something that I’m not. But I can’t not come back because it’s my family.”