Overview
- Investigators are scrutinizing an apparent ransom note that set a 5 p.m. Thursday payment deadline with a second deadline on Monday, according to officials briefed on the case.
- TMZ and Tucson’s KOLD-TV received anonymous demands for millions in bitcoin, and TMZ verified that a cryptocurrency address provided in its note is real and active.
- The FBI announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to Guthrie’s rescue or the arrest of those responsible while continuing to assess the authenticity of the media notes.
- Authorities arrested Los Angeles resident Derrick Callella over false ransom texts to family members, but investigators say he is not connected to the notes sent to media outlets.
- Experts say on-chain transactions are visible and traceable, yet tying a wallet to a person often requires exchange records or other leads, and cross-border movements can slow enforcement.