TUCSON — Chef’s Tribute to Missing Mother’s Impact

The chef at the historic Tucson establishment featured on Savannah Guthrie’s segment of the “Today” show expressed heartfelt sentiments regarding Guthrie’s missing mother, urging people to see the situation as if it were their own grandmother.

Carlotta Flores, 79, who works at El Charro Cafe in downtown Tucson, shared with the Post that the Guthrie family has been a part of their community for years. Nancy Guthrie, Savannah’s mother, continued to enjoy takeout from the restaurant even when she could no longer visit physically.

“I can only say wonderful things about their family. When I think of grandmothers, she comes to mind,” Flores remarked. “[Nancy] was humble and proud, always wanting the best for her family. She’s a proud mother, and, well, she happens to have a daughter in the public eye,” she added.

Flores emphasized that for the Tucson community, Nancy’s case isn’t just a celebrity narrative but represents a cherished local figure who vanished unexpectedly.

“People have their various opinions about what might have happened, but at the end of the day, it is a missing person case. This is about a mother who’s missing… Nobody should have to go through this, especially someone of her age,” she noted.

“In Tucson, if someone goes missing for a couple of days, it raises eyebrows. We have a tight-knit community,” she continued.

Nancy, 84, was reported missing when local church members noticed her absence during Sunday morning Mass and informed her family.

Authorities suspect that she was taken from her home against her will late Saturday night. As of Tuesday, there were no arrests made, and the FBI has been involved to expedite the investigation.

Concerns have been raised since Nancy requires daily medication, which she may not have access to, putting her health at serious risk.

Her pacemaker, which helps regulate her heart condition, stopped syncing with her Apple device early Sunday, and she also deals with high blood pressure, as noted in the 911 call audio.

Nancy appeared in a segment with Savannah and her sister during a “Today” show feature filmed at El Charro Cafe last November.

Flores mentioned that Savannah frequents the restaurant each time she visits Tucson.

Following her mother’s disappearance, Savannah left NBC’s coverage of the Milan Winter Olympics to return to Tucson.

Nancy raised Savannah and her sister alone after their father suffered a sudden heart attack when Savannah was just 16.