While the search for Nancy Guthrie continues into its third week, law enforcement officials revealed a new detail that could cross off a list of suspects.
“I have been told by several in local law enforcement Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance does not show any signs of cartel involvement,” NewsNation reporter Brian Entin shared via X on Wednesday, February 18. “But that doesn’t mean whoever did this didn’t take her to Mexico.”
Entin previously revealed, “A federal law enforcement source tells [Libbey Dean] the FBI has contacted Mexican authorities in connection with the Nancy Guthrie case. The sheriff has said there is no evidence she is in Mexico.”
It has been a week since the Federal Bureau of Investigation released a description of the suspect after evaluating footage uncovered from Guthrie’s doorbell camera.
“The suspect is described as a male, approximately 5’9″ – 5’10” tall, with an average build. In the video, he is wearing a black, 25-liter ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack,” the FBI’s Phoenix division shared via X on February 12.
They added, “Today, the FBI is increasing its reward up to $100,000 for information leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.”
Despite the details began shared with the public, there are still no suspects in the case of the missing 84-year-old.
Guthrie was last seen on the evening of January 31. She was reported missing the following day after friends noticed her absence at her normal church service.
Ransom notes were sent to various news outlets, including TMZ, demanding large sums of money in the form of Bitcoin.
On Wednesday, February 18, TMZ reported receiving a new ransom email.
The outlet reported that law enforcement told them, “They believe that Nancy was taken across the border, but doubt if she is across the border that it happened directly after the kidnapping.”
According to the new ransom note, Guthrie’s abductors are demanding a “form of crypto, not Bitcoin.” Harvey Levin called the demand “highly sophisticated,” and revealed that the ransom demand is close to the $6 million noted in the previous ransom letter. However, Levin added, the crypto account attached to the new letter is different from the original.
“This email graphically describes the consequences if the ransom isn’t paid,” the outlet reported.
The FBI has already arrested one man from Hawthorne, California, accused of transmitting a demand for ransom.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI will continue to hold this defendant accountable and any other individuals who seek to interfere with federal investigations or profit from the victim family’s grief,” the agency announced on February 12.
