NBC has strengthened security at the "Today" show’s Manhattan studios after two troubling incidents: the Feb. 1 abduction of Savannah Guthrie’s mother in Tucson and an intrusion at the studio where Craig Melvin was allegedly accosted. An internal memo — later confirmed by NBC sources — limits guests to two support personnel, among other undisclosed measures. Authorities say 41-year-old Andrew Truelove matches studio footage and faces hate crime, burglary and menacing charges; the Guthrie kidnapping remains unsolved.
NBC Tightens Security at 'Today' Studio After Guthrie Kidnapping and Melvin Intruder Incident
Savannah Guthrie and Nancy Guthrie posing together on an outdoor set with the Sydney Opera House in the background.
NBC has bolstered security at the "Today" show studios in Manhattan following two alarming incidents: the unsolved abduction of co-host Savannah Guthrie’s mother and a separate intrusion in which co-host Craig Melvin was confronted inside a secure area, according to multiple reports.
What NBC Has Said
An NBC spokesperson said in July: "We are reviewing the incident and our security protocols and remain committed to providing a safe and secure environment for everyone who works at and visits our studios." Specific details of the changes have not been publicly released.
Internal Memo And New Rules
Variety obtained an internal NBC memo outlining planned security changes, which network sources later confirmed. One directive limits guests to being accompanied by no more than two support personnel — whether stylists, spokespeople, social media aides or other assistants — as part of tighter visitor controls.
Savannah Guthrie poses alongside her mother Nancy Guthrie during a production break while hosting NBC's "Today" show on May 4, 2015, in Sydney, Australia.
Background: Two Related Incidents
On Feb. 1, Nancy Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, was abducted from her home in the Catalina Foothills area of Tucson, Arizona. Her whereabouts remain unknown; no suspects have been publicly identified and no arrests have been announced in that case.
Shortly after that case drew national attention, a 41-year-old man identified by authorities as Andrew Truelove gained access to a restricted area of the "Today" studio complex. According to reports, he was reportedly seeking Al Roker but instead encountered Craig Melvin in a vestibule, where he allegedly used a racial slur and accosted Melvin. Broadcast footage from that morning shows a man resembling the suspect appearing in the background during the 8 a.m. hour.
Charges And Court Records
Truelove faces charges related to the Melvin incident, including hate crime and burglary (a felony) and a misdemeanor menacing charge. Court records and reporting indicate a man of the same name and age has a lengthy criminal history — including a 2007 conviction for an attempted abduction of a child in Norfolk, Virginia — and additional pending matters in New York involving alleged assault, trespassing and reckless endangerment, as well as a criminal mischief indictment from the previous year.
Broader Implications
NBC’s internal security review and the memo’s restrictions underscore heightened concerns about studio safety, visitor screening and access controls at major broadcast facilities. Network officials say the measures aim to better protect staff, guests and visitors while investigations into both the Tucson abduction and the New York intrusion continue.
Help us improve.
