The investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie took a strange turn early Wednesday morning when a new ransom note surfaced with a twist: the sender isn’t claiming to have Guthrie, but rather the identity of her kidnapper.
TMZ reported receiving the message just before 5 a.m. PT, marking a shift in the high-stakes search for the missing woman who vanished from her home on January 31.
According to the outlet, the anonymous sender claimed they resorted to contacting the media after failed attempts to reach Guthrie’s children, Camron and Annie, via text and email.
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The note issued an ultimatum, stating that the name of the individual involved in the abduction would be released only in exchange for 1 Bitcoin sent to a specific digital wallet. “Time is more than relevant,” the message warned, underscoring the urgency of Guthrie’s medical situation, as she relies on a pacemaker and daily heart medication.
Federal investigators are now reviewing the communication after TMZ forwarded the details to the FBI. This latest development adds a layer of complexity to the case, as the Bitcoin address provided in this note does not match the one found in the original ransom demand sent to news stations in Tucson last week.
At current market rates, 1 Bitcoin is valued at approximately $66,000. This figure exceeds the $50,000 reward currently offered by the FBI for information leading to Guthrie’s safe return or the conviction of those responsible.
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The demand comes on the heels of authorities detaining a man in connection with the search, though he has publicly maintained his innocence and denied any involvement in the disappearance.
While police initially classified the case as a missing person investigation, the discovery of multiple notes has led officials to believe Guthrie was targeted and abducted from her residence overnight.
As the search enters its second week, the focus remains on the window of time required for her life-sustaining medication, making every new lead—regardless of the source—a priority for law enforcement.
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