UMVA has learned that a chilling ransom note demanding $4 million in bitcoin was sent in the early days of Nancy Guthrie's abduction, and its demands were not met, potentially leading to her tragic death.
The ransom note, sent shortly after Nancy was taken on February 1, eerily contained specific details about her home and personal belongings, including a broken flood light behind her Tucson, Arizona, home and her Apple Watch. Authorities believe this email was legitimate, and the correct information raised hopes that the kidnappers might be telling the truth.
As the days passed, Savannah Guthrie, Nancy's daughter, made an emotional plea on Today, begging anyone to come forward with information. With tears in her eyes, she said, "Somebody knows something. We are in agony and we cannot be at peace. No matter how much I try to come out here every day and smile and find that joy — and I will, I promise I will — this is the moment to tell you we need your help, we're begging for your help and I'm not going to miss that opportunity."
The ransom demands were clear: $4 million in bitcoin by February 5, or the amount would increase to $6 million. Despite a public plea for help from Savannah and her siblings, the deadline passed, and a follow-up message indicated the amount would be raised to $6 million if not paid by February 9, with the ominous warning "or else."
In a shocking turn of events, a message arrived on February 6, a day after the initial deadline, containing an "apology" for Nancy's death, adding her body could be delivered for the original $4-million sum. An attempt to flush out the individual(s) behind the ransom note by depositing a little money in the Bitcoin account failed, as the cryptocurrency wallet remained inactive, thwarting authorities' ability to track the people behind it.
Meanwhile, another outlet reported receiving close to a dozen emails from a man claiming he knew both the identity of the kidnappers and the location of Nancy. However, their account of the ransom notes differed, stating that they "did not contain an apology or a revelation that she was dead."
The FBI and the Pima County Sheriff's Department are urging anyone with tips to contact them at 1-800-CALL-FBI, with a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to Nancy's recovery or the arrest of anyone involved in her disappearance.
