Bitcoin Ransom Note
New Ransom Notes in Guthrie Case Name Alleged Suspects, Demand Bitcoin for Hidden Phone Evidence
Key Points
The latest ransom note demands one Bitcoin in exchange for access to the hidden phone's password and its location, with the message noting the location is easy to access if you know where it is.
The note asserts there were two kidnappers and that the device reportedly contains a short video of the main guy with Nancy on the day described as her last, along with photos and the names, addresses, and ages of those involved.
The sender explicitly states they are not the tipster who previously claimed a burial site in Mexico, distancing themselves from that earlier tip.
Rewards remain active: the Guthrie family is offering about 1 million dollars and the FBI about 100,000 dollars for information, with reports that the materials have been forwarded to the FBI.
The communications reportedly reference a Bitcoin wallet and another cryptocurrency address, signaling that digital-payment details were part of the exchange.
A bombshell new ransom note in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case claims two people abducted the 84-year-old mother of TODAY show host Savannah Guthrie — and that a hidden phone holds video proof. The sender is demanding one Bitcoin, worth roughly $60,000 to $70,000, in exchange for the phone's location and password, according to TMZ.
Nancy has been missing for 185 days, since January 31, 2026, when she was last seen at her Tucson, Arizona home. Fox News and The Blast report the note was sent to TMZ, which has been the primary outlet receiving communications in the case. The FBI has been alerted and is reviewing the claims.
Hidden Phone Allegedly Holds Video of Nancy's Last Day
The new note claims a phone is stored in a secure but easily accessible location. The sender says it contains a short video of the "main guy" with Nancy on what they describe as her last day. It also reportedly holds photos of both suspects, along with their names, addresses, and ages, according to The Blast.
The note demands one Bitcoin to hand over the phone's password and location. TMZ director Harvey Levin has urged the sender to provide a proof-of-life screenshot before any exchange. Yahoo News reports the communications reference both a Bitcoin wallet and a second cryptocurrency address, suggesting the sender has specific digital-payment details ready.
Sender Distances Themselves From Earlier Mexico Burial Tip
The note-writer explicitly says they are not the person who previously claimed Nancy was buried in Mexico. That earlier tip led investigators toward a burial site south of the border, but it produced nothing. The new sender appears to be a different party — or is trying hard to look like one, according to Courier Mail.
The case has attracted a flood of false tips. A man named Derrick Callella was arrested for sending fake ransom texts to the Guthrie family. He admitted he had no real information and was chasing the reward money. Investigators have received more than 40,000 tips total, making it hard to separate real leads from noise.
One Suspect on Camera, But Note Claims Two Were Involved
Early doorbell footage from Nancy's neighborhood showed only one masked suspect. The new note directly contradicts that, claiming two people carried out the kidnapping. The FBI has not publicly confirmed whether evidence supports a two-person theory, Yahoo News reported.
Former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer has noted the cold, precise language of the notes and suggested that AI may have been used to write them — possibly to hide the sender's identity or education level. FBI profiler James Fitzgerald and other ex-agents are also reviewing the latest claim but remain cautious about grifters trying to collect reward money.
$1.1 Million in Rewards Still on the Table as FBI Digs In
Savannah Guthrie publicly offered $1 million for her mother's safe return or recovery back in February. The FBI has added $100,000 of its own. Both rewards remain active. Fox News reports the latest emails have been forwarded to the FBI, though no new information has been publicly verified.
Early in the investigation, law enforcement sent $152 in Bitcoin — instead of the demanded $4 million — as a tracking attempt. Some experts say that move may have caused the kidnappers to go silent for months. Now, with a new note using a known Bitcoin address linked to earlier credible communications, the FBI is keeping close tabs on this latest contact.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativePublishers
26
Articles
100
Reach
126
