Nancy Guthrie Case: TMZ Receives Bitcoin Demand as Ransom Letter/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ TMZ received a third alleged letter claiming knowledge of Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapper. The message demands one Bitcoin and includes a name and email address. Authorities continue investigating after a detained man was released without charges.
Nancy Guthrie Disappearance Letter – Quick Looks
- Third alleged message sent to TMZ founder Harvey Levin
- Letter claims sender knows kidnapper’s identity
- Demand made for one Bitcoin payment
- FBI reviewing surveillance footage of masked suspect
- Person detained earlier released without charges
Deep Look: Third Letter to TMZ Claims to Know Who Kidnapped Nancy Guthrie
The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie took another unexpected turn Wednesday after TMZ founder Harvey Levin revealed his outlet received a third alleged letter tied to the high-profile case.
Speaking on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom,” Levin described the latest message as “bizarre,” saying the sender claimed to know the identity of Guthrie’s alleged kidnapper and demanded one Bitcoin be sent to a verified cryptocurrency address.
According to Levin, the email included both a name and an email address, though he cautioned that there is no confirmation the claims are legitimate.
“We have no idea whether this is real or not,” Levin said, noting that the Bitcoin address appears active and valid.
Authorities Continue Investigation
The letter surfaced just hours after a man detained for questioning in connection with Guthrie’s disappearance was released without charges.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Tuesday that deputies stopped and questioned a subject during a traffic stop south of Tucson. The individual, later identified as Carlos Palazuelos in media interviews, denied any involvement.
Palazuelos said he works as a delivery driver in the Tucson area and was questioned about his recent whereabouts. He claimed investigators showed his in-law an image of a masked individual, and that authorities believed the suspect’s eyes resembled his.
Law enforcement has not publicly named any suspects or persons of interest.
Surveillance Footage a “Huge Break”
Earlier this week, the Federal Bureau of Investigation released previously inaccessible doorbell camera footage showing a masked individual wearing gloves and a backpack outside Guthrie’s Tucson home around the time she vanished on Feb. 1.
The footage shows the person tampering with the front-door camera, holding a flashlight and attempting to obscure the lens.
FBI Director Kash Patel said investigators have made “substantial progress” in recent days and are examining multiple persons of interest.
Former FBI officials interviewed by Fox News expressed mixed reactions to the new letter sent to TMZ. Some described it as potentially a scam meant to distract investigators, while others acknowledged that any credible lead must be examined.
Search Activity in Southern Arizona
Investigators also executed a court-authorized search at a property in Rio Rico, Arizona — about 60 miles south of Tucson near the U.S.-Mexico border. The FBI’s Evidence Response Team assisted local deputies in processing the site.
Authorities concluded the search early Wednesday but have not disclosed whether evidence was recovered.
Bitcoin Demand Raises Skepticism
The demand for one Bitcoin — currently valued at tens of thousands of dollars — has raised red flags among law enforcement experts. Former FBI officials cautioned that high-profile cases often attract opportunists seeking attention or financial gain.
Levin said law enforcement has suggested a working theory that the alleged kidnapper may reside in the Tucson area, citing repeated communications sent to local media outlets.
Still, investigators have urged the public to submit tips through official FBI channels rather than respond to unverified communications.
As the search for Nancy Guthrie continues, authorities stress that all credible information is being evaluated — but caution remains high as new claims surface.
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