Nancy Guthrie, Nancy Guthrie Ransom, Nancy Guthrie Update
The Guthrie family has offered a $1M (about £750,000) reward for information that leads investigators to Nancy, who is 84. CC0

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told Fox News Digital reporter Michael Ruiz he knew of no new Bitcoin ransom demand for Nancy Guthrie, despite claims circulating widely on social media. Ruiz said other federal and county sources he contacted on Monday had not heard of it either. Separately, the sheriff's department said its Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) task force learned of a possible new ransom note and was checking its credibility.

Nancy, 84, is the mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie. She disappeared from her home near Tucson, Arizona, almost eight months ago. Hoax Bitcoin texts have previously reached her family, and in July one sender admitted in court that he had intended to harass them.

What Officials Told a Reporter on Monday

Ruiz investigated the claim on 28 September after it gained traction on social media. He spoke with several sources at the federal and county level and reported that 'none of them heard this.' The FBI is assisting the sheriff's department, which leads the investigation. Ruiz shared his findings on X the same day, along with public tip lines.

Ruiz also set out where the case stands. Nancy's doorbell camera filmed a masked intruder whom police have still not identified, and investigators have made no arrests. The Pima County Sheriff's Department has said the doorbell videos show a man who investigators believe knows what happened to her. Detectives have urged the public to report if they noticed a friend or relative with unexplained injuries or sudden travel at that time. Authorities emphasise that even seemingly minor observations could prove crucial in piecing together the timeline.

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The Ransom Notes Sent in February

Tucson television station KOLD received two notes from someone claiming to hold Nancy. KOLD sent both to the Pima County Sheriff's Department, which shared them with the FBI. The first, dated 2 February, demanded $4M (about £3M) in Bitcoin. The demand would rise to $6M (about £4.5M) if unpaid, and the note threatened her life.

The second note, dated 6 February, made no demand but instead claimed that Nancy had died soon after the abduction. KOLD published both notes on 31 July, hoping the wording might prompt tips. By 1 July, the FBI's Phoenix office said in a post on X that it had received 'several' ransom notes. It found some were false attempts to get money, while others were treated as possibly genuine. At that time, the FBI said it was still investigating Nancy's disappearance as a kidnapping for ransom.

Hoaxes, Rewards, and Where to Send Tips

One hoax has already ended in court. Derrick Callella, 42, of Hawthorne, California, pleaded guilty on 2 July to two federal counts of harassment using a telecommunication device. On 4 February, he had texted two of Nancy's relatives about a Bitcoin transfer. Prosecutors said he admitted he had known about the earlier ransom demand.

Nancy's family has offered a reward of $1M (about £750,000). Tips can be sent to 1-800-CALL-FBI or the anonymous line 88-CRIME. Savannah Guthrie said on Today on 15 September that her family wants the chance to say goodbye to Nancy properly. 'We just want our mom home,' she said.

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