Full Breakdown
New Demand Letter Claims Video Evidence in Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping
6/27/2026, 3:09:38 AM
The Latest Allegation: Video Claim and Bitcoin Demand
A new email received by TMZ on June 26, 2026 alleges that the sender possesses a phone “stashed in a secure location guaranteeing both the information it stores and the safety of the phone.” The sender says the device contains “a short video of the main guy with Nancy the day that was probably her last, pictures of both involved, names and addresses and age.” The email demands one Bitcoin (? $60,000) for the password and location of the phone. TMZ authenticated the message by matching the sender’s alias and Bitcoin address to earlier communications and has forwarded the email to the FBI.
Background: Disappearance and Earlier Ransom Notes
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen on the evening of January 31, 2026, after a family member dropped her off at her Tucson, Arizona home. She was reported missing the following morning, prompting an investigation by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI. Within days, multiple ransom notes were sent to media outlets. Two early February notes were later verified by the FBI as legitimate; they demanded Bitcoin payments of $4 million and referenced a possible body return. Subsequent notes—some claiming she was dead, others offering apologies—were deemed “likely fake” by authorities. Savannah Guthrie, co-host of Today, has publicly stated that her family believes two of the many notes were genuine.
Key Players
- Nancy Guthrie – missing victim.
- Savannah Guthrie – daughter, Today co-host, family spokesperson.
- Pima County Sheriff’s Department – primary local law-enforcement agency.
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – federal investigative partner.
- TMZ – media outlet that received and authenticated the latest email.
- Anonymous sender – alleged informant claiming video evidence.
- Buscando Corazones Nogales – nonprofit that received a tip about a possible grave near the Arizona-Mexico border.
Timeline of Major Developments
- Jan 31, 2026 – Nancy Guthrie last seen.
- Feb 1, 2026 – Missing-person report filed.
- Early Feb 2026 – First FBI-verified ransom notes received (Bitcoin demand).
- Feb 6, 2026 – Note suggested body could be returned for ransom.
- Mar 2026 – Savannah Guthrie publicly identified two notes as credible.
- May 2026 – Volunteer group searched near the Arizona-Mexico border; no remains found.
- June 26, 2026 – New demand letter received by TMZ, claiming video evidence.
Rewards and Demands
- Family reward: $1 million for information leading to Nancy’s recovery.
- FBI reward: $100,000 for actionable tips.
- Current demand: 1 Bitcoin for the password to the alleged phone.
Significance of the New Claim
If authentic, the video could identify the “main guy” and confirm the involvement of two kidnappers, potentially breaking a months-long investigative deadlock. The demand also illustrates ongoing extortion attempts that complicate law-enforcement efforts and sustain public attention on a high-profile missing-person case.
Official Responses
- Pima County Sheriff’s Department: “The investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie remains active and ongoing.” The department continues to work closely with the FBI.
- FBI: Maintains a tip line (1-800-CALL-FBI) and has received the email from TMZ. No comment on the specific claim.
- TMZ: Confirmed authentication of the email and requested a screenshot of Nancy in the alleged footage before further action.
Skepticism and Unverified Claims
Law-enforcement officials have labeled many of the ransom notes as “fake.” The new video claim has not been independently verified, and the FBI has not confirmed its authenticity. The sender’s identity and motives remain unknown.
On-the-Ground Search Efforts
Blood was found on Nancy’s porch, and a masked suspect was captured on a door-bell camera. Volunteer groups and search teams have scoured desert terrain and the Arizona-Mexico border area without locating her remains.
Conflicting Reports and Unanswered Questions
- Existence of video: Claim vs. lack of verification.
- Number of kidnappers: Sender asserts two; authorities have not identified any suspects.
- Status of victim: Some early notes claimed she was dead; no body has been recovered.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I have a phone stashed in a secure location guaranteeing both the information it stores and the safety of the phone.” — Anonymous sender, alleged informant
- “What it contains is my definition of delivering them on a silver platter, a short video of the main guy with nancy the day that was probably her last, pictures of both involved, names and addresses and age.” — Anonymous sender, alleged informant
- “I am not the idiot who recently called in a tip about her burial site in Mexico.” — Anonymous sender, alleged informant
- “This is a news story today that is on your radar, but this is the life that my sister lives, that I live, that my brother lives, that our extended families live, that our children live, every day. And we are in agony. We cannot be at peace.” — Savannah Guthrie, Today co-host
- “1 — told us, “The investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie remains active and ongoing.” — Pima County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson
- “But I believe the two notes that we received that we responded to, I tend to believe those were real.” — Savannah Guthrie, Today co-host
Next Steps
The FBI continues to review the email and any subsequent leads. The family’s $1 million reward and the FBI’s $100 000 reward remain available. Savannah Guthrie and her siblings will keep urging the public for information, while law-enforcement agencies maintain active investigations into the kidnapping and any related extortion attempts.
