🚨 BREAKING TMZ EXCLUSIVE: THIRD LETTER in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping nightmare – and this one’s demanding CASH  from the family! 😱💰

TMZ just got a THIRD mysterious note/email: Not from the kidnapper(s)… but from someone claiming they KNOW exactly who did it. They’ve tried contacting Savannah’s brother and sister privately – no luck. So they’re going public: “If they want the name of the individual involved then I want 1 Bitcoin to the following wallet. Time is more than relevant.”

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The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has taken yet another bizarre turn as TMZ reported receiving a third communication tied to the case – this one from an individual claiming to know the identity of the kidnapper and demanding cryptocurrency in exchange for the information.

The latest note, received by TMZ early Wednesday, February 11, 2026, does not purport to come from the abductor(s) responsible for taking Guthrie from her Catalina Foothills home on February 1. Instead, the sender asserts knowledge of the perpetrator and states they attempted – without success – to contact Savannah Guthrie’s siblings, brother Camron and sister Annie, via email and text.

TMZ founder Harvey Levin detailed the contents during an appearance on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom,” quoting the message in part: “If they want the name of the individual involved then I want 1 Bitcoin to the following wallet. Time is more than relevant.” Levin confirmed the Bitcoin address provided is legitimate and active, with one Bitcoin valued at approximately $66,000 at the time of receipt – roughly aligning with the $50,000 reward offered by authorities for information leading to Guthrie’s recovery or the arrest of those responsible.

The outlet forwarded the communication to the FBI, which is leading the multi-agency investigation alongside the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities have not publicly commented on the note’s authenticity or potential legitimacy, though former FBI officials speaking to outlets like Fox News suggested it could represent opportunistic extortion amid widespread media coverage rather than a credible lead.

The case began when Guthrie was reported missing shortly after noon on February 1, following her failure to attend a planned church livestream. Family members had dropped her off at her home around 9:48 p.m. the previous evening after dinner. Evidence at the scene – including confirmed bloodstains matching Guthrie’s DNA on the porch – indicated she was taken against her will. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos described the incident as a kidnapping from the outset.

Earlier communications added to the mystery. TMZ and at least two Tucson television stations received alleged ransom notes demanding millions in Bitcoin for Guthrie’s release, complete with deadlines (one of which passed without proof of life) and threats. Those demands targeted the family directly, with Savannah Guthrie and her siblings releasing emotional video pleas stating they were willing to pay for her safe return.

The third note stands apart: It positions the sender as an informant rather than a perpetrator. The sender’s claim of prior unsuccessful outreach to family members raises questions about their access to contact information and motives. TMZ emphasized the note’s “bizarre” nature while noting the sender provided a name and email address – details not disclosed publicly.

Investigators released doorbell camera footage on February 10 showing a masked individual – wearing a ski mask, gloves, and backpack, with a visible handgun – approaching Guthrie’s front door and apparently tampering with the Nest camera in the early morning hours of February 1. The images, described by experts as showing premeditation (possibly a burglary escalating into abduction), marked the first visual evidence of a potential suspect.

A separate development unfolded Tuesday evening when authorities detained a man during a traffic stop in Rio Rico, about 60 miles south of Tucson near the Mexico border. Officers executed a search warrant at a residence there, but the individual – identified by family as Carlos Palazuelos, a delivery driver – was released after questioning. He publicly denied involvement, stating he had no knowledge of Guthrie or deliveries to her address.

The investigation has drawn thousands of tips following the footage release, with searches continuing in desert terrain near the home. Authorities maintain they are operating under the belief Guthrie is alive, though her age, health considerations, and the passage of 11 days heighten concerns. Forensic teams have examined blood evidence and other traces left at the scene.

Public reaction has been intense, with the high-profile nature of Savannah Guthrie’s role amplifying coverage. Family statements have focused on hope and urgency, while critics question aspects of the ransom demands and the apparent sophistication (or lack thereof) in the suspect’s actions. Some experts, including former FBI agents, have noted inconsistencies – such as the suspect’s visible firearm and camera tampering – that might suggest an opportunistic crime rather than a highly organized kidnapping for ransom.

The emergence of a third letter demanding payment for information underscores the challenges in high-visibility cases: Opportunists and scammers often surface, complicating genuine efforts. The $50,000 reward remains active through official channels, providing a lawful alternative to private cryptocurrency transactions.

As the search enters its second week, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office and FBI continue canvassing neighborhoods, reviewing surveillance, and following leads. No arrests have been made, and Guthrie’s whereabouts remain unknown. Savannah Guthrie has not commented publicly on the latest TMZ note, though family appeals for contact from anyone with information persist.

The case – blending celebrity spotlight, cryptocurrency demands, masked surveillance imagery, and now a claimed insider tip for hire – continues to captivate national attention. Whether the third letter proves a breakthrough, a hoax, or mere exploitation remains unclear, but it adds another layer to an already perplexing disappearance that has gripped Arizona and beyond.

For now, the focus stays on finding Nancy Guthrie alive. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the dedicated tip line rather than engaging with unverified demands.