NEW YORK — Savannah Guthrie may be forced to step away from her role as "Today" co-anchor for a second time, according to a person close to the situation cited by The U.S. Sun, as new developments in the nearly five-month-old disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, continue to weigh heavily on the broadcaster.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, has been missing since Feb. 1, when she was reported absent from her Tucson, Arizona, home after failing to attend a scheduled church service. Investigators have said evidence found at the scene, including blood and signs of forced entry, points to a violent struggle, and the case has since been treated as a likely abduction. Savannah Guthrie took a leave of absence from "Today" in the immediate aftermath of her mother's disappearance before making an emotional return to the anchor desk on April 6.

The renewed possibility of another leave comes after a new ransom note surfaced, sent to TMZ and reportedly claiming that Nancy Guthrie is no longer alive. According to reporting on the note's contents, the sender also claimed to possess video evidence of those allegedly responsible for her disappearance, asserting it could "deliver them on a silver platter" if certain demands were met. As of this report, authorities have not publicly confirmed the authenticity of the note, and no suspects or persons of interest have been formally named by either the Pima County Sheriff's Department or the FBI as the investigation approaches the five-month mark.

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