Nobody in management is talking about why Leslie Griffith has been missing from the KTVU Channel 2 “10’O Clock News” for more than a month now. She’s still mentioned in the opening credits and station promos. Her name hasn’t been removed from the KTVU web site. All of which has caused a lot of rumors both inside and outside of Channel 2. Station General Manager Tim McVay told the Chron’s Matier & Ross that she’s on a leave of absence and that she will return Oct. 27. As for what triggered her sudden departure, there have been lots of rumors, but McVay isn’t saying. “As far as leaves go, they are confidential matters and Leslie has privacy rights, and I want to honor and respect that,” McVay told Matier & Ross.

Contra Costa Times TV writer Chuck Barney wrote about Griffith’s leave of absence on Sept. 29, and his spin was that the station might be trying to terminate her contract. “Griffith does have three years remaining on her KTVU contract and has expressed over the past year some disillusionment with the state of the broadcast news industry,” Barney wrote on Sept. 29. “She also has repeatedly said she might be willing to pursue other interests. At that time, Sept. 29, KTVU’s McVay was saying that Griffith would be back within a week.

“The situation recalls another anchor mystery at KTVU,” Barney wrote, “In March of 1998, Elaine Corral abruptly resigned with an on-air announcement that took her co-workers by complete surprise. She and management refused to discuss the matter, which was widely believed to be connected to Corrals desire for a pay increase and more responsibility on the newscast. Corrals replacement? Leslie Griffith.”