A missing-person case that has gripped America just took a stunning new turn.
A mysterious ransom-style message is now demanding 1 Bitcoin — roughly $66,000 in early 2026 — in exchange for the name of the person allegedly responsible for the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.
Federal authorities are investigating. And the clock is ticking.
The new note surfaced before dawn, according to media reports, and was quickly forwarded to the FBI.
It was not written like a traditional ransom letter.
Instead, the sender claims to have inside information — and wants payment before sharing it.
“If they want the name of the individual involved, then I want 1 Bitcoin to the following wallet,” the message allegedly reads. “Time is more than relevant.”
The sender claims they have tried contacting Savannah and her siblings, Camron and Annie, by text and email without success.
The Bitcoin wallet listed in the note is reportedly active. It is also different from a previously circulated crypto address tied to an earlier ransom communication.
Law enforcement sources say investigators are treating the message cautiously.
“It could be a desperate extortion attempt,” one former federal agent told us. “Or it could be someone who genuinely believes they have actionable information. Either way, you don’t ignore something like this.”
Authorities have already offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to Nancy’s safe return.
One Bitcoin is currently worth more than that.
That discrepancy is fueling speculation.
“If someone truly wanted to help, they could collect the reward and stay anonymous,” a retired law enforcement official said. “Demanding more than the official reward suggests leverage — or opportunism.”
Cybercrime analysts note that cryptocurrency demands have become increasingly common in extortion cases over the past five years. Digital wallets are harder to trace. But not impossible.
The FBI’s cyber division is now believed to be analyzing the wallet and digital fingerprints tied to the note.
Nancy Guthrie vanished February 1.
She was last seen January 31 at her home.
The following day, she was expected at a friend’s house to watch a livestreamed church service — a routine that began during the COVID-19 pandemic and continued for years.
She never arrived.
Friends grew concerned. Calls went unanswered.
They contacted her daughter Annie.
When Nancy’s children arrived at the home, her wallet was still there. Her cellphone was inside. Personal belongings were untouched.
There were no obvious signs of a struggle.
That detail has haunted investigators.
“It’s the items left behind that change this from a voluntary disappearance to a potential abduction,” a former FBI profiler explained. “When an elderly person leaves without essentials, that’s a red flag.”
The case intensified this week when police detained a 36-year-old delivery driver, Carlos Palazeulos.
He was questioned for several hours before being released.
Standing outside his home, visibly shaken, he denied any involvement.
“They held me against my will. They didn’t even read me my rights two hours in,” he said.
Palazeulos insisted he had never heard of Nancy Guthrie — or her famous daughter.
“They told me to stop moving. What the f— am I doing here? I didn’t do anything. I’m innocent,” he said.
He added: “I hope they find the suspect, because I’m not it. They better do their job and clear my name.”
Law enforcement has not named him a suspect.
At this time, no arrests have been made in connection to Nancy’s disappearance.
The disappearance of the mother of a nationally known television journalist has amplified the case.
But investigators say celebrity connections do not change the facts.
“We treat every missing senior case with urgency,” a law enforcement source said. “But when ransom demands escalate into cryptocurrency extortion, the stakes grow even higher.”
The biggest question now:
Is the Bitcoin note a cruel scam?
Or is someone holding the key to solving this case?
As FBI agents continue their search, one reality remains unchanged.
Nancy Guthrie is still missing.
And whoever is responsible remains at large.
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