Investigator Says 7,001st Tip Could Crack 150-Day Nancy Guthrie Case

Q: Conflicting ransom notes mention cryptocurrency and death. What do they reveal about the fate of the 84-year-old victim?

They do not establish Nancy Guthrie’s fate; at most, they suggest the possibility that she died soon after the abduction, but that claim remains unverified. According to reporting and law-enforcement statements, one early note demanded millions in cryptocurrency for Nancy Guthrie’s safe return and included specific details about her home, which made investigators take it seriously. A second note, sent days later, reportedly said she had died shortly after being taken, that her death was unintended, and that she was buried outdoors. If authentic, that would point to a kidnapping that quickly turned fatal. But the evidentiary value of the notes is still disputed. Some reports said the FBI had deemed the early notes fake. Later, the FBI clarified that while some messages were clear extortion attempts without legitimacy, other ransom communications could be legitimate and remain under investigation. The family has indicated it believes at least the two earliest notes may be real, while many later messages were not. That leaves the case in a narrow but important place: the notes reveal what someone claiming knowledge of the crime wanted the family and investigators to believe, not what has been proved. Investigators are still treating the case as a kidnapping for ransom, and Nancy Guthrie has not been found. Until authorities verify the sender or recover physical evidence, the death claim in the second note remains a lead, not a confirmed account of what happened.

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 2

More than 150 days after Nancy Guthrie vanished, private investigator Herman Weisberg said the case could still break with a single public tip, despite thousands of leads already checked.
Weisberg said crowdsourcing often solves high-profile crimes because widespread attention prompts witnesses to revisit footage, notice suspicious details and call investigators with the missing piece.
The 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie has been missing since Feb. 1; FBI and Google recovered Nest doorbell video, and two detained men were later released without charges.
Weisberg said he is surprised digital forensics have not already cracked the case, but added investigators may be further along than public updates suggest.
Combined rewards now exceed $1.2 million, including $1 million from the family, as authorities and relatives continue urging tips through the FBI and Tucson Crime Stoppers.