3rd Note in Nancy Guthrie Case Makes New Demand for Identity of Abductor

TMZ has reportedly received a third note asking for payment in exchange for the identity of Nancy Guthrie’s abductor.

The sender noted in an email that he contacted the celebrity news outlet “because he doesn’t trust law enforcement,” the publication reported on Friday, February 13.

“He’s essentially using TMZ as an intermediary, telling authorities, ‘You don’t trust me, and I don’t trust you,’” the report stated.

The sender reportedly mentioned the reward for information in Guthrie’s case being doubled from $50,000 to $100,000, claiming in their email that the FBI increased the amount “to discredit me.”

TMZ previously reported on Wednesday, February 11, that they received a note asking for 1 Bitcoin in exchange for the name of the person who allegedly abducted Savannah Guthrie’s mother nearly two weeks ago. (One Bitcoin is currently worth approximately $68,000.)

“If they want the name of the individual involved then I want 1 Bitcoin to the following wallet. Time is more than relevant,” the initial note read, with the sender claiming that they tried to get in touch with Savannah, 54, and her siblings, Annie and Camron, but were unsuccessful.

The note was forwarded to the FBI.

TMZ later reported on Thursday, February 12, that they received a second note claiming, “I am not being taken seriously.” The outlet described the note as “ominous” but did not share further details.

The sender also claimed that Bitcoin was necessary in order to avoid being “incriminated” like Carlos Palazuelos, who was recently detained and questioned by police in connection to the case before he was subsequently released from custody. Palazuelos denied having any involvement in Nancy’s disappearance.

Now, in the third note, the sender has reportedly asked for a fraction of Bitcoin worth $50,000 in exchange for information on Nancy’s alleged kidnapper. The person then reportedly expects to receive another $50,000 in Bitcoin, matching the FBI’s $100,000 reward.

“He promises not to withdraw the first $50K until the kidnapper is arrested,” TMZ reported.

The outlet also noted that the email specifically stated that the sender would provide “the name of the main individual,” theorizing that multiple people may be involved.

According to TMZ, the third note referred to “the current state” of Nancy, 84, but the outlet did not share further details.

Nancy was reported missing on February 1 after she was last seen the previous evening by her family. Authorities believe that she was kidnapped from her home in Arizona, as her mobility issues likely would have made her unable to leave on her own. Additionally, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos noted that “concerning circumstances” at Nancy’s home led to homicide detectives getting involved in the search.

On Tuesday, February 10, FBI Director Kash Patel released new surveillance photos and footage shot from Nancy’s security camera, which showed a man on her porch wearing a ski mask and appearing to have a gun holstered in the waistband of his pants. He attempted to cover the camera with his hand.

On Thursday, the FBI released an official description of the suspect as “a male, approximately 5’9” – 5’10” tall, with an average build. In [a newly-obtained security] video, he is wearing a black, 25-liter ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack.”

TMZ also obtained Ring camera footage showing a goateed person approaching the front door of a home located 6.5 miles away from where Nancy lives in the Tucson, Arizona, area. The person backed up to the door before turning around to seemingly tamper with a security camera. The footage was reportedly shot one week before Nancy’s disappearance.

A law enforcement source connected to the case told the outlet that the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI are aware of the footage and are actively investigating it.

While there is no definitive link between this person and the suspect in Nancy’s case, both appeared to have similar facial hair.