Nancy Guthrie’s ransom note claims they “know who” the kidnapper is and recently “saw” her “south of the border”

Nancy Guthrie case faces new ransom claim

An anonymous tipster has emailed TMZ claiming to know who kidnapped 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie, and says they saw her “south of the border” about five days earlier.

Recent coverage describes this as the fourth email from the same source. Earlier messages demanded millions in Bitcoin and later 1 Bitcoin in exchange for the kidnapper’s name, while the FBI separately offers a $100,000 reward for information.

Authorities are treating the emails as a lead and have shared them with investigators in the ongoing Tucson kidnapping case.

Kidnapping shocks Tucson community

Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Tucson-area home overnight between Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, and investigators believe she was taken against her will in the early hours of Feb. 1.

Surveillance video shows a masked man tampering with her doorbell or porch camera shortly before it stopped working. Blood found outside the home has been confirmed as Nancy’s, and her family, including Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has issued emotional public appeals for her safe return.

First ransom note surfaces quickly

The first ransom email, received by Tucson TV station KOLD, allegedly demanded $4 million in Bitcoin by Feb. 5 for Nancy Guthrie’s safe return and warned of severe consequences if the deadline was missed.

According to sources who have seen the message, it also set a second deadline, raising the demand to $6 million by Feb. 9. In a later note, the alleged kidnapper claimed Nancy was being held within roughly a 700-mile radius of Tucson and promised she could be returned within 12 hours of payment.

Suspect images released publicly

The FBI has released surveillance images and video showing a masked man wearing dark clothing and a black Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack as he tampers with a doorbell or porch camera outside Nancy Guthrie’s home.

Investigators later recovered a glove about two miles away that appears similar to the gloves seen in the footage and have confirmed it contains an unknown male DNA profile. That DNA does not match samples from inside Guthrie’s home or any profile in the national CODIS database.

Detectives are working with Walmart stores across Arizona, reviewing sales and surveillance footage for matching backpacks and clothing, but they have not publicly identified a specific buyer.

Family cleared by sheriff statement

Investigators have said they do not consider Nancy Guthrie’s immediate family, including her daughter Savannah and siblings Annie and Camron, to be suspects, and they describe the family as fully cooperative.

The confirmed ransom notes have been sent to media outlets rather than directly to the Guthrie family, though at least one separate impostor attempt targeted them. Despite intensive forensic work, including DNA testing and analysis of surveillance videos, authorities have not yet announced a definitive breakthrough.

TMZ receives multiple tip emails

TMZ has reported receiving multiple emails from the same anonymous person who claims to know the identity of Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapper and has demanded cryptocurrency in exchange for information. Some of these messages have used the same crypto wallet address, while others have referenced a different account or even a different type of cryptocurrency.

The messages have been turned over to the FBI, which is reviewing them along with other tips, though investigators have not publicly confirmed that the sender is genuinely connected to the abduction.

Tipster claims recent sighting

In a recent email, the anonymous tipster told TMZ, “I know what I saw 5 days ago south of the border, and I was told to shut up so I know who he is, and that was definitely Nancy with them.” The wording suggests the writer believes there is more than one person involved in holding Nancy.

Because Tucson is relatively close to the U.S.–Mexico border and the note repeatedly mentions being “south of the border,” investigators are now seriously considering a possible cross-border angle and have contacted Mexican authorities for assistance.

Bitcoin demands evolve rapidly

In a later email, the writer demanded 1 Bitcoin in exchange for the name of the person they say kidnapped Nancy Guthrie, a much smaller sum than earlier ransom demands that sought millions of dollars in Bitcoin.

The sender claimed to have also reached out to Savannah Guthrie’s siblings by email and text but said those efforts went unanswered. Investigators are monitoring the cryptocurrency wallets referenced in these messages and have confirmed at least one transaction linked to the address mentioned in the early ransom note.

FBI treats notes with urgency

The ransom emails and notes sent to news outlets have been forwarded to the FBI, which is analyzing them alongside other evidence in the case. The bureau is offering up to $100,000 for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery, and additional private donations have raised the total reward above $200,000.

Investigators from the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department are working jointly, reviewing DNA evidence, surveillance footage, and tips from the public, including potential leads suggesting Nancy may have been taken across the U.S.–Mexico border.

Public appeals intensify search

Savannah Guthrie earnestly urged absolutely anyone possessing crucial information to contact authorities without hesitation. Disturbingly dropped blood evidence on the porch alongside sabotaged camera footage heightens the case urgency dramatically every single day.

Solidarity community vigils throughout Tucson steadfastly support the grieving family approaching the grim three-week disappearance milestone somberly. Widespread media coverage powerfully amplifies reward visibility effectively across the entire nation, reaching millions.

Cops push back on claims involving Savannah Guthrie’s brother-in-law as a suspect, drawing a firm line between online chatter and official investigative findings.

Case developments spark hope

A fourth message sent to TMZ from the same anonymous writer has added a new twist by claiming the sender saw Nancy Guthrie “south of the border” days earlier. That email, like the previous ones, has been turned over to the FBI, which is assessing its credibility while continuing to treat the potential Mexico connection as one line of inquiry.

Nancy’s family is still waiting for any clear proof that she is alive, and federal and local authorities say locating her remains a top priority as they coordinate with law enforcement on both sides of the border.

Desperation and love echo in Savannah Guthrie’s emotional plea, as she offers to pay her mother’s ransom and begs publicly for her safe return. 

Nancy Guthrie’s shocking update raises many questions. What do you think about her claims? Like the post and share your thoughts in the comments.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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