TechFlow News, February 4 — According to Decrypt, a ransom note demanding several million dollars in Bitcoin has emerged in the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of TODAY show host Savannah Guthrie. The celebrity news website TMZ reported receiving the ransom email, which included a Bitcoin address, a deadline, and threats for non-compliance.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office stated it is reviewing all leads and coordinating the investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), but has not yet confirmed the authenticity of the ransom note. Nancy Guthrie went missing from her home in Arizona on the evening of January 31; authorities upgraded the case to a “possible kidnapping” after discovering “disturbing” evidence at her residence.
In recent years, cryptocurrency has increasingly been used in kidnapping and ransom cases. In 2025, global violent “cryptojackings”—physical attacks targeting cryptocurrency holders—reached a record 72 incidents, a 75% increase over 2024.
