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Bitcoin (BTC) has emerged at the center of a disturbing and high‑profile ransom case involving the family of NBC “Today” show co‑host Savannah Guthrie.
Authorities are investigating the disappearance of Guthrie’s 84‑year‑old mother, Nancy Guthrie, who vanished from her home in an upscale Tucson, Arizona, neighborhood on January 31.
According to reports, troubling signs were discovered at the residence. Blood was found on the front porch, and the home’s doorbell camera had been removed. In the days that followed, ransom messages were reportedly sent to news organizations demanding payment in Bitcoin.
The case took another unexpected turn this week when a new ransom note surfaced. Unlike earlier messages allegedly sent by suspected kidnappers seeking money, this latest communication appears to come from an individual offering information in exchange for cryptocurrency.
TMZ reported early Wednesday morning that it had received the note, which included what the outlet described as a legitimate and active Bitcoin wallet address. The message allegedly states: “If they want the name of the individual involved then I want 1 Bitcoin to the following wallet. Time is more than relevant.”
Ari Redbord, global head of policy at blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs, commented on the broader context in remarks to Fox News Digital. He noted that cryptocurrency allows for the rapid movement of substantial funds.
However, he suggested that a one‑Bitcoin demand is relatively modest compared to the massive sums sometimes seen in large‑scale crypto crimes. “It would get more alerting if it was $60 million or $600 million,” Redbord said, referring to the size of transactions that typically raise significant red flags.
Meanwhile, federal authorities continue their search for Nancy Guthrie. The FBI has announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information that leads to her recovery or to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for her disappearance.
Amid the uncertainty, Savannah Guthrie addressed the situation on social media, expressing hope that her mother is still alive. “We believe she is still out there. Bring her home,” she wrote.
As of this writing, Bitcoin was trading at $67,598, which is nearly 47% below the all-time high of $126,000 reached during last October’s rally.
Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
