The investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has taken another dramatic turn after a new ransom letter claimed to contain video evidence allegedly showing the missing woman alongside one of her suspected kidnappers. According to reports, the anonymous message was sent to TMZ on Friday by the same individual who has previously contacted the outlet regarding the case. The sender claimed to have hidden a mobile phone containing what they described as “a short video of the main guy with Nancy” on what they alleged may have been the final day she was seen alive. The message also claimed the device contains photographs, names, addresses and identifying details related to the alleged kidnappers.
The individual demanded payment in Bitcoin in exchange for access to the phone, claiming its location was secure and that the password would only be provided after payment. TMZ stated that it believed the email came from the same sender as earlier ransom messages because it referenced the same alias and a previously used Bitcoin address.
Rather than complying with the demand, the outlet said it requested a single screenshot from the alleged video to help verify the claims before forwarding the latest message to the FBI.
The sender also alleged that two people were involved in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance and denied responsibility for an earlier tip that led investigators to search for a possible burial site in Mexico. Earlier this month, a volunteer search organization conducted a large search based on that information, but no evidence connected to Guthrie was found.
Authorities continue to stress that the investigation remains active. A spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said detectives are working closely with the FBI as they continue reviewing evidence, following leads and investigating the circumstances surrounding Guthrie’s disappearance.
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing from her Arizona home earlier this year. Since then, multiple ransom messages have surfaced, with some being sent directly to the Guthrie family and several media organizations.
Savannah Guthrie has previously shared that she believes two of the ransom letters may be credible. During an emotional television appearance earlier this week, she once again appealed to the public for information, saying her family remains desperate for answers and urging anyone with knowledge about her mother’s disappearance to come forward.
At this stage, investigators have not verified the existence of the alleged video, and no arrests have been made in connection with the case. The claims contained in the latest ransom message remain unsubstantiated as law enforcement continues its investigation.