TMZ Gets Alleged Bitcoin Ransom Note in Nancy Guthrie Case

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TMZ Receives Alleged Bitcoin Ransom Note in Missing Nancy Guthrie Case

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: February 06, 2026

Key Takeaways

Police review a Bitcoin ransom email sent to TMZ as they investigate the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie;
The note demands a large Bitcoin payment and hints at harm, but officials have no proof of its authenticity and no identified suspect;
Guthrie vanished on January 31, and the case shifted to a possible kidnapping after officers found evidence inside her home that raised concerns.

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TMZ Receives Alleged Bitcoin Ransom Note in Missing Nancy Guthrie Case

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A new development has emerged in the search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie.

An email described as a ransom note reached TMZ, and officers are currently examining it as part of an abduction investigation.

TMZ reported that the message requested “a large” amount of Bitcoin BTC $64,325.63 in exchange for Guthrie’s release. The note also set a deadline and suggested that harm could follow if no payment is made.

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Officials have not confirmed whether the email is genuine, and no suspect has been identified.

Harvey Levin, founder and host of TMZ Live, explained how the outlet handled the message. He said:

We have called the sheriff’s department. We’ve made multiple calls and spoken with the detective unit. We have passed on this email. We don’t know whether this is legit or not.

Levin also noted that media companies do sometimes receive messages like this.

Guthrie was last seen on January 31 at her home in the Catalina Foothills area of Arizona. Police first listed her as a missing vulnerable adult because of her age.

On February 2, they announced that the case was viewed as a “possible kidnapping” after officers found evidence inside the home that raised concerns.

Recently, three teens forced a London man to hand over $4.3 million in crypto and received a combined 16 years in youth custody. How did the case unfold? Read the full story.