New Bitcoin Ransom Note Raises Fresh Hopes and Doubts in Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping

Fresh Demands Target TMZ

A second‑hand ransom note arrived at TMZ on Monday, claiming the author knows the location of 84‑year‑old Nancy Guthrie’s body and the identity of her abductors. The note demands half a bitcoin—roughly $12,000 at current rates—to disclose the information. Earlier that day a separate email declared that Guthrie is dead, while yet another claimed the victim had been seen alive in Sonora, Mexico.

Law‑Enforcement Response

The FBI has been alerted to both messages, and the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, which is leading the investigation, says it is reviewing the threats. Officials have previously labeled similar notes as likely scams, but Savannah Guthrie, the TODAY co‑host and daughter of the missing woman, has said the two most recent communications appear more credible than earlier ones.

Timeline and Context

Nancy Guthrie vanished from her home in Tucson on Feb. 1. Initial ransom demands asked for one bitcoin; many were dismissed as hoaxes. Over two months later, the new notes re‑ignite public interest and underscore the difficulty investigators face in separating genuine leads from extortion attempts.