Overview
- TMZ reported on Friday that it received an email from a sender who claims a phone hidden in a “secure location” contains a short video of Nancy Guthrie with a suspected ‘‘main guy’’ plus photos, names and addresses in exchange for one Bitcoin.
- The outlet says it confirmed the message used the same alias and a previously used Bitcoin address, declined to pay, asked for a screenshot from the alleged video as proof, and forwarded the email to the FBI.
- Law enforcement continues to treat the disappearance as an active investigation and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department says it is working closely with the FBI, but no suspects have been publicly named or arrested.
- Outside experts have cast doubt on the latest claim; a retired FBI profiler told reporters he suspected the note is not authentic and questioned why someone with key evidence would first contact a media outlet.
- Investigators are balancing new media tips with forensic and technical leads already collected in the case — including doorbell footage of a masked person, blood at the scene, pacemaker app data, DNA testing and blockchain tracing of bitcoin wallets — while the family presses for information and has offered a $1 million reward.