Nancy Guthrie Update: FBI’s ‘Best Lead,’ According to a Cybersecurity Expert
What To Know
- Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, remains missing after her February 1 abduction from her Tucson, Arizona home..
- Cybersecurity expert Ari Redbord explained that the FBI considers tracing the Bitcoin ransom payments as their “best lead.”
- Investigators are using blockchain analysis tools to track the flow of funds and potentially identify those behind the abduction by linking cryptocurrency addresses to known threat actors.
Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie‘s mother, Nancy Guthrie, is still missing following the February 1 abduction from her Tucson, Arizona, home. And recently, Nancy Grace spoke to a cybersecurity and cryptocurrency expert about the “best lead” in the 84-year-old’s case.
In the April 2 episode of Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, the Fox Nation journalist interviewed Ari Redbord, who works as TRM Labs’ global head of policy. They discussed Bitcoin and how that might ultimately solve the case.
“Many people believe that Bitcoin cannot be traced, and tonight we are learning the FBI believes that’s their best lead on who took Miss Guthrie,” Grace said before introducing Redbord.
Grace said that she thinks the video of “porch guy” and the footage of cars driving in the neighborhood during the early morning hours of February 1 are what could crack the case. However, she also brought up the ransom notes that Savannah and her siblings received early in the investigation — and specifically, whether the Bitcoin address can be traced.
“Look, anytime that there’s a cryptocurrency address involved in a case, it’s an immediate lead,” Redbord explained. “And what most people don’t understand about cryptocurrency is every transaction occurs on a public blockchain, particularly Bitcoin, which is public. Meaning every transaction is traceable, trackable, and immutable. In other words, it’s there forever. In other words, crypto is the ultimate crime scene.”
Additionally, Redbord pointed out that investigators can “go back in time” and look at “what transactions have occurred prior to this day involving this cryptocurrency address.” He said that ultimately, the funds can be tracked and traced across blockchains using tools like TRM.
“Every cryptocurrency address is a unique string of letters and numbers. And what we do is, we associate those numbers with threat actors. Think terrorist financiers, sanctions, ransomware actors. And that allows law enforcement to track and trace the flow of funds to build investigation, prosecutions, to ultimately seize back those illicit proceeds.”
Nancy was last seen at her Tucson home on the evening of January 31. Despite the Pima County Sheriff’s Department’s and the FBI’s efforts — and Savannah’s $1 million reward offer — no suspect has been named in the case.
What do you think, if anything, might crack Nancy’s case?
Conversation45 Comments
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I
I think the Tucson Police Department needs to let the K-9 dogs loose in her neighborhood and the surrounding desert terrain to see if any evidence may be found as well as possibly find Nancy. K-9 dogs are amazing at finding clothing and people. We all still hope she's found alive, but the family needs some answers. Why wouldn't you let the dogs try to find something!??
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R
Have them sniff Nancie’s yard, front and back. Shes wrapped in a blanket and buried somewhere there’s enuf area in her yard for that, PROBOBLY, why drive any further?
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T
Any indication they haven't done this already?
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G
Oh yes! Oh my goodness that’s a such a good idea! No way law enforcement would have thought of that !
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B
I believe they did do the dogs for a couple days
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T
I think it has to be someone who has been there before. Maybe a day worker, gardener, pool cleaner, someone like that. That's what makes the most sense to me. And who knows, this might have been someone who worked for her years ago. As much as I hope they find her alive, it's been so long without her medications etc she's probably not with us anymore.
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R
Oh yes they have been there before!
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M
Its so hard to say bec there was incompetent ppl on the scene in crucial hrs of this investigation. Idk how Nanos sleeps at night. The gutherie fam, Nancy, law enforcement everywhere, and the community deserve soo much better. THIS IS A TRAVESTY! I pray they get a break in this case soon. I'm still hopeful for Mrs. Nancy 🙏🎗✨️✝️💛🌻
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R
I watched another True Crime story with another Nancy missing. The police used Geo-Fencing to see whose phone pinged in the area when the abduction occured. As it turns out, it was a painter who killed and abducted her! 🤬 Everyone thought he was a Great Guy and family man!
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L
I watched that, too! Why can’t they do that here? Or maybe they have?
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R
A great guy and family man can still be a killer.
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P
If she had an iPhone or any cel phone close to her at the time of her abduction even if it was left behind wouldn’t her phone of been listening like phones do and isn’t there a way to retrieve whatever was said as she was being taken Since her phone was left behind wouldn’t it be worth trying to extract that from her phone? Especially possible if she was running any meta apps……..
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G
Cadaver dogs are the ones that find bodies. That medium said Nancy came to her in a dream and said the news and FBI were close but didn’t go far enough . Said she was on pebbles near a spring,
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S
Bitcoin transaction tracing & DNA analysis will crack the case.
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C
I thought the Guthrie family didn’t have an address to send the bitcoin.
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E
So if crypto currency can be traced why haven't they done that yet.
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M
Were there any Bitcoin transactions made to the abductors? I don't understand crypto currency, but I never heard anything that indicated that there had been any payment made.
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C
No transaction but an address for the ransom to be sent to. So what the are doing is finding other transactions with that address. Basically finding who has or where that address is based on previous use. The down side is these transactions are basically verified by thousands of computers all at the same time just taking tiny pieces of it, thus making it almost instant. So tracing it the other way takes tons of time and computational power
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C
I thought that the ransom couldn’t be sent because they didn’t have an address
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D
There might be a possibility of cracking the case so to speak but is she alive or not probably not
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N
I’ve watched a lot of crime stories over the years , When children get kidnapped they find them CLOSE BY LIKE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I think she is within a 1 mile radius of her home . Taken by someone who is “ odd “ , maybe a little off …
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A
I think Tomasso is guilty.look at those eyes! Polygraph test is not a bit positive! I think he had a band member of his at the back of house. I think they messed up when they didn't take her medicine. And what about the women's pants and top found in the dry flood wash area behind Annie's home. Looks like a fit for me.
And, with red stains on the top.
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L
I think I've either missed info given or there are things that don't make sense to me...like gaps in the info I hear...
I know they don't release everything...but was there any sign of robbery intent?...it doesn't make sense...they ransom request and not present proof of life...
Did her pacemaker show any signs of stress before it was disabled?
I have so many questions the longer this goes on.
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D
12/5-10/25 Google search Nancy Guthrie. 12/11/2025 major drug bust 1 million fentanyl pills/est., worth $5.5 million. 12/13-20/25 Google search Saavanah Guthrie. 12/21/25---01/10/26 no activity (maybe due to holiday activity of visiting friends, family, partying. 01/11/26 Suspicious vehicle activity. 01/24/26 Suspicious vehicle. 01/31/26-02/01/26 Nancy Kidnapped. 02/02-03/26 1st ransom note for $ 6 million ( close to drug bust $ amount). 02/05-06/26 2nd ransom note more of an apology letter. Analytical possibility: drug smuggling group gets drug shipment on consignment from cartel. Someone is worried about losing the load and looks for back up plan so they search Nancy Guthrie. The drug load gets busted so they owe the cartel that money. They then search Saavanah. Individual from the group does nothing for holidays until suspicious vehicle activity on 01/11/26 and 01/24/26. On 02/01/26 Nancy kidnapped but suspect(s) are not aware of her medical condition and she dies. The second ransom note is made so suspect can distance them self from cupability of her death. Most of computer searches done during the week but physical action of suspicious vehicle and kidnapping done on three consecutive weekends. Suspect may work Monday through Friday with weekends off.
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G
Has anyone thought of someone in her church? You know angels aren't the only ones that hang out in church.
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S
I think I said that it might be somebody that’s been coming and taken care of her like a medical person because she’s got that pacemaker on and it’s not been on since she’s left and she’s not alive. Whoever took her has to be in a medical consider our center or does medical stuff like a physician that knows about it because they’re keeping our love somehow if that pacemaker can be tracked and somehow they’ve done something else to keep it on so she’s not gonna die cause her heart will stop on it and it won’t restart back without that pacemaker so I think maybe you should check and see if anybody close to the family is like a medical person you know just been coming in like maybe help you take care of her or whatever or has a key to the door or has access to get to the tequila door it’s gonna be something like that close to the family. It’s gotta be yeah I just overlooked it but check with the doctors that she’s been seeing or any of them that’s coming in there to see her. That’s the big big thing right there I think.
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F
Yes! Same a contractor someone who worked there before! They knew how to navigate around and in her home so easily !
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D
I think that since the law enforcement are not releasing any new leads or news, podcasters are creating their own news by reporting on perceived lack of progress
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J
God almighty knows exactly who Kidnapped Ms Nancy. We need to completely put our eyes on him. Ask him sincerely with a true belief. He will definitely reveal the people responsible to this action. I know that to be true and l been have praying. Please join me in praying and asking God for Revelation.
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C
Its been said that she used Uber alot to get places. Sometimes people share thi gs with their driver that may seem innocent at the time but a criminal can see as an opportunity. If it wasnt someone in her immediate circle then I would think it would have to be someone in the next layer. Uber driver, landscaper, etc...
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H
I think its a local young man with a stupid plan. I think he accidentally killed Mrs. Guthrie & all the ransom requests are bogus. Its a local boy with some crazy video game mentality & Nancy is buried in his moms backyard.
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L
I have several Ring cameras. Here’s my question: How do you pull the camera off the wall without unscrewing it? Those two screws were unscrewed beforehand. Go online to watch previous recordings, if any.
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S
Well obviously it’s gotta be somebody that works for her. That’s been there and before all this has happened because they didn’t have any force entry and the doors were unlocked and open so whoever it was had a key to get in because I’m sure that was she got dropped off later that evening she locked the door when she went in the door behind her I mean, I live by myself and where my kids and I always keep my door locked. I’m home alone always and even when they’re there they’re still want so it has to be somebody that has a key to that door and somebody that’s from New York to family it could be anybody like maybe even a daughter-in-law’s or a father or a son-in-law or something somebody has something to do with it and it doesn’t make any sense while they’re not taking ransom or taking money after all this time that she’s just gone like maybe they should’ve already didn’t want her to come back maybe that’s what they don’t want. Maybe they just got rid of her cause maybe they’re trying to collect more money on something maybe some reason in debt with their head and you don’t know it. You’re not investigating that Heart maybe they owe lots and with her being launched to get inheritance and with all that money as inheritance, then they can deal with their debt. It’s always about money usually that female members to deal with it too maybe might even be Samantha’s husband he’s been in all country since all this has been happening. He hasn’t even really even been in a picture. .
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N
I think it may be one of the contractor guys that did the new roof or one the picture of the one guy caught on camera roaming around in the neighborhood looks just like the porch guy
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M
Maybe somebody who knows her well from church and needed cash or anillegal immigrant who is desperate to get home under the radar!
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B
It’s just unthinkable that there are no leads-I just can’t wrap my head around the whole thing
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F
They need to get a list of contractors that worked at her home and bring them in for questioning.
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G
This has all the markings of a murder for hire. Check Nancy's friends and associates. Someone was prepaid to murder her. Motive ? Jealousy, some sort of dispute, money $$$.
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J
Get some very renowned psychics on the case! It can't hurt and one of them may give you the location of Nancy, and even more info to lead to answers!!
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W
I am a medium. Have been all my life. I am known to be pretty accurate. However, I won't deliver information to anyone but the police, FBI or family. The entire case is so sad. I can tell you this much .. I really believe it's someone that has already been questioned. Other details are available but as I said I ethically cannot reveal those to the public. But I'm available. All I can be is right or wrong. If I'm right then I've helped solve a tragic case. If not, then, it was a lead. To prove something... Only family would know "Babies breath". They will understand this. And "two post cards till home." Or
Maybe two post cards were sent while they were gone, to say they were coming home?
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J
I was wondering if Nancy could have been taken in the garage before she made it to the bedroom? Someone could have put her purse and shoes inside through the back door.
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D
Prayers.
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G
I think that it’s time for the family to bow out of the media spotlight and begin their REAL grieving process, IN PRIVATE. As it is clear that there are NO new leads; and leave it to the police. And frankly WE, the public, are sick of the focus on this ONE missing person; when there are THOUSANDS of missing/kidnapped persons-so it feels UNFAIR to other missing persons. It’s time to move on-for the media and her family!
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K
I still believe that Annie Guthrie is involved in some way. I also agree that the K9 should have been out from the beginning. I don't trust the sheriff either, something is off with him.
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B
I have been keeping up with this case i cant believe with all the technology they can't find 1 elderly woman.
This has to be inside job is there a life insurance policy?
Was nancy a wealthy woman? I heard she was going to change her will?
Who would be left out? Who would benefit from her death?
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