Story perspectives

Guthrie Siblings Offer $1M Reward Amid Botched Bitcoin Ransom

6/23/2026

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Guthrie Family Reward

Savannah Guthrie and her siblings posted pleas on social media, offering a $1 million reward for information on their mother’s kidnapping.
Nancy Guthrie remains missing after FBI agents sent a $152 Bitcoin payment to a Tucson, Arizona wallet that failed.
$4 million Bitcoin ransom demanded, with the deadline set to extend if unpaid after four days.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said DNA labs are generating leads, investigators closer despite criticism.

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Guthrie Family Pays

Two ransom emails mentioned a flood light and the victim’s Apple Watch, and a note apologized for her accidental death.
FBI agents deposited $152 in Bitcoin to the ransom wallet, but the wallet stays inactive and Nancy Guthrie remains missing.
The messages were labeled “good,” “bad,” and “ugly,” the “bad” note containing the death apology.
Savannah Guthrie posted a video saying family received messages and will pay for her mother.

History

Historical Context

Silk Road, launched in February 2011 by Ross Ulbricht, became the first Tor-based market using Bitcoin escrow. After two years of illicit sales, the FBI and DOJ shut it down in October 2013, seizing 144,000 bitcoins (about $1.2 million then). That seizure proved law-enforcement can trace crypto, a capability echoed today as the FBI moves $152 bitcoin to a Tucson wallet in the Guthrie kidnapping investigation.

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Guthrie Family Reward

Savannah Guthrie and her siblings posted pleas on social media, offering a $1 million reward for information on their mother’s kidnapping.
Nancy Guthrie remains missing after FBI agents sent a $152 Bitcoin payment to a Tucson, Arizona wallet that failed.
$4 million Bitcoin ransom demanded, with the deadline set to extend if unpaid after four days.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said DNA labs are generating leads, investigators closer despite criticism.

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