A new email sent to TMZ has added another unverified claim to the unresolved disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.
TMZ reported Friday, June 26, that it received another message from a person claiming to have information about Nancy’s disappearance. The outlet said the sender claimed a hidden phone contains video, photos, and identifying information connected to the case.
The message has not been publicly verified by law enforcement. TMZ said it forwarded the latest email to the FBI, while officials have not announced that the alleged phone, video, photos, or named individuals have been authenticated.
The report comes days after Savannah Guthrie made another public plea for information about her mother, who has been missing since late January after authorities said she was apparently taken from her Tucson-area home.
The Email Claims a Hidden Phone Contains Video and Photos
According to TMZ, the sender claimed the phone is hidden in a secure but accessible location and contains a short video involving Nancy and a person described as the “main guy.” The outlet reported that the email also allegedly included names, addresses, and ages for two people the sender claimed were involved.
The sender allegedly asked for one Bitcoin in exchange for the phone’s password and provided a new Bitcoin address. TMZ said it believes the latest message came from the same person who sent earlier communications because the alias and an older Bitcoin address matched previous emails.
TMZ said it asked the person to provide a screenshot of Nancy from the alleged phone to help authenticate the information, but no public confirmation has been released.
Authorities Have Not Confirmed the New Claim
The new email follows earlier ransom-related communications reported by multiple outlets. The Associated Press reported this week that one ransom note concerning Nancy’s disappearance allegedly said she died shortly after being kidnapped, citing reports from CNN and other outlets.
AP also reported that several media outlets received ransom notes and that some details were withheld to preserve the value of future communications. Neither the FBI nor the Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the contents of that note to AP.
Savannah Guthrie Recently Made Another Public Appeal
Nancy was last seen at her residence in the Catalina Foothills area near Tucson on the evening of Jan. 31. The FBI describes her as a vulnerable adult who has difficulty walking, has a pacemaker, and needs daily medication for a heart condition.
Reuters reported that Savannah recently made an emotional on-air appeal for answers, saying her family remains in agony and continues to look for information. The outlet reported that surveillance footage released earlier in the case showed a masked person tampering with Nancy’s home security.
Authorities previously said blood found at Nancy’s home matched her, and investigators released images and video of a masked person outside the home. The FBI has offered a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to Nancy’s location or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.
The Investigation Remains Open
People reported that Nancy was reported missing on Feb. 1 after she did not attend church and relatives went to check on her home. The case has involved searches, public appeals, surveillance footage, DNA evidence, and reported ransom communications, but Nancy has not been found.