A person who contacted TMZ shortly after Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance claimed she was already dead and offered information in exchange for cryptocurrency, the outlet reports.
TMZ received a series of emails from a man who claimed to know both the identity of Guthrie’s alleged kidnappers and her location.
According to the outlet, the man initially requested one bitcoin in exchange for information and stressed that “time is of the essence.” The outlet reported that he specifically stated he was not involved in the kidnapping.
The following day, the man allegedly sent another message stating that “time is no longer of the essence.”
TMZ said it interpreted the message to mean Guthrie was no longer alive.
The outlet reported that the man continued sending emails claiming Guthrie had been taken to Mexico. TMZ also reported that the individual said he feared retaliation and believed authorities could attempt to link him to the case.
TMZ Says It Contacted The FBI
According to TMZ, the outlet remained in contact with the FBI after receiving what it described as an authentic ransom note connected to the case.
TMZ later approached federal investigators with an unusual proposal: paying the requested bitcoin in an attempt to learn more about the source and potentially uncover additional information.
The outlet said it wanted to ensure such a payment would not interfere with the investigation or harm Guthrie’s family.
According to TMZ, the FBI described the idea as “interesting” and indicated it would follow up.
The outlet has since attempted to contact investigators multiple times but has not received additional responses regarding the proposal.
Ransom Note Clarification
TMZ also pushed back on recent reports regarding the contents of a ransom note connected to the case.
According to the outlet, the note did not contain an apology and did not state that Guthrie had died, despite reports suggesting otherwise.
TMZ said the FBI previously confirmed to the outlet that the ransom note it received was authentic.
A Mystery That Continues To Deepen
The latest developments add another layer of intrigue to a case that has captivated viewers and generated national headlines.
Nancy Guthrie disappeared earlier this year under circumstances that investigators have described as suspicious. Despite months of investigation, authorities have not announced any arrests or publicly identified suspects.
The case has drawn widespread attention in part because of the high-profile involvement of Guthrie’s daughter, television personality Savannah Guthrie.
In recent months, Savannah Guthrie returned to her role on NBC’s “Today” show while continuing to publicly advocate for answers in her mother’s disappearance.
Family members have repeatedly expressed hope that new information will emerge and have urged anyone with knowledge of the case to come forward.
Questions Remain Unanswered
There is no public evidence confirming the identity of the email sender, whether the individual had legitimate knowledge of the case, or whether any of the information provided was accurate.
Still, the report raises new questions about what investigators may have known in the days immediately following Guthrie’s disappearance and whether the mysterious tipster possessed information that has not previously been made public.
For now, the fate of Nancy Guthrie remains unknown, and the search for answers continues.
