1st Payment in Savannah Guthrie’s Mom’s Ransom Reportedly Made as Alleged Abductors Promise to Surrender 1 Suspect if More Money Is Delivered
We finally have some real leads in the Nancy Guthrie investigation. Savannah Guthrie’s mom disappeared from her house over ten days ago, with police confirming shortly after that she had been kidnapped. But for days, all we heard was what the family was posting on social media. In the last few days, however, there has been real progress in the investigation, according to reports.
First, TMZ is reporting that there has been activity in the Bitcoin account listed in the first ransom note which was sent to TMZ and two TV stations in Tucson. That suggests a payment has been made, though TMZ would not report the amount.
Related: Who are Savannah Guthrie’s siblings?
But that’s not all, as TMZ reportedly received a second note that says, “If they want the name of the individual involved then I want 1 Bitcoin to the following wallet. Time is more than relevant.” The Bitcoin address has been confirmed as legitimate, and it’s not the same address as the first note. 1 bitcoin is approximately $66,000 right now.
It all comes as police are closer to getting a picture of who abducted Nancy Guthrie, with the same outlet reporting that law enforcement believes the person who wrote the note lives in the Tucson area and is very familiar with the local TV stations the note was sent to.
There’s also the fact that the kidnapper promised to return Nancy to Tucson within 12 hours of receiving the ransom, which puts them somewhere within a 700-mile radius of Tucson.
Police recently detained a man for questioning in the abduction, though he has now been released. The man was identified as a 36-year-old named Carlos. He denied any involvement with Guthrie to the police and later said in an interview, “I hope they get the suspect, because I’m not it,” he added, “They better do their job and find the suspect that did it so that they can clear my name.”
“Earlier today, Pima County Sheriff’s Department deputies detained a subject during a traffic stop south of Tucson,” the Pima County Sheriff’s Department had said Tuesday night, February 10, in a statement released on X. “The subject is currently being questioned in connection to the Nancy Guthrie investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.”
Previously, the FBI had released surveillance photos and video of a potential subject obtained through Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell and security cameras. In the footage, the suspect is wearing a ski mask, jacket, and gloves, and carrying a firearm.
Nancy Guthrie and her late husband Charles shared three kids: Savannah, Annie, and Camron. Savannah Guthrie, who is better known for the Today show, has been absent from the daytime show since February 2, the day after her mother was reported missing. She and her siblings have posted several videos on Instagram, with the family pleading for their mother’s safe return. Those videos include messages to their mother, as well.
On one of them, posted on Saturday, February 7, the siblings indicated they were willing to pay the ransom. “We received your message and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us and we will pay.”
Now, it seems like they might have done just that. Law enforcement has yet to confirm whether the ransom has been paid or if the second note is legitimate.
