The desperate search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie has taken another horrifying twist. Just days after a mysterious sender contacted TMZ claiming to know the identity of her kidnapper, the same person has now sent a follow-up email — and the contents are far more menacing than the first.

Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, vanished from her Tucson-area home on January 31, 2026. Security footage captured a masked, armed individual on her porch that morning, and authorities quickly classified the disappearance as a kidnapping. The FBI launched a massive manhunt, releasing images of the suspect — described as a man approximately 5’9″ to 5’10” with an average build, wearing dark clothing and carrying a 25-liter Ozark Trail backpack — and offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest or recovery.

The case has gripped the nation, with Savannah and her siblings issuing emotional public appeals for Nancy’s safe return. Yet amid the anguish, opportunistic claims and demands have complicated the investigation.

On February 11, 2026, TMZ founder Harvey Levin revealed that his outlet received an email from an anonymous sender asserting knowledge of the kidnapper’s identity. The message claimed the writer had unsuccessfully tried to contact Savannah’s brother and sister, and demanded one Bitcoin — worth around $66,000 at the time — sent to a verified wallet address in exchange for the name. The sender warned that “time is more than relevant,” implying urgency and possible danger to Nancy.

TMZ forwarded the email to law enforcement and did not pay or publish specifics, cooperating fully with the FBI. The following morning, February 12, a second email arrived from the same individual. This time the tone had shifted dramatically. The sender complained of not being taken seriously and included “ominous statements” that alarmed investigators. While exact wording remains confidential to protect the investigation, sources describe the language as threatening and suggestive that the situation had escalated overnight. The sender reportedly expressed fear of retaliation if they revealed the kidnapper’s identity, stating they would need funds to “lay low” and avoid being “incriminated” like others questioned in the case.

The chilling escalation has left the Guthrie family and the public reeling. What began as a possible extortion attempt now carries darker implications — hints that the writer may have direct knowledge of Nancy’s condition or location. The rapid follow-up, combined with the increasingly menacing tone, has intensified fears that time is running out. The Bitcoin wallet linked to the demands reportedly received a small test deposit, though no full ransom has been paid.

Authorities continue to treat the emails as potential leads while warning they could be hoaxes or opportunistic scams. A California man, Derrick Callella, was arrested and later released after allegedly sending a separate fake ransom demand to the family. The FBI has emphasized that no credible communication from actual kidnappers has been confirmed, and they remain focused on the masked suspect captured on video.

The Guthrie family has endured an agonizing two weeks. Savannah and her siblings released a short, cryptic video pleading for Nancy’s return, saying they understood the sender’s message and begging for her safe release so the family could “celebrate with her.” Community vigils at St. Sabina Church and elsewhere have drawn hundreds, with prayers for Nancy’s safe return and for an end to the violence plaguing the area.

The second email has amplified public anxiety. Many fear the writer may be connected to the crime, using the media to pressure the family or authorities. Others worry it could deter legitimate tipsters from coming forward. The FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Office continue urging anyone with information to contact them or Crime Stoppers, stressing that tips can remain anonymous.

As the search enters its third week, the chilling new message has injected fresh dread into an already heartbreaking case. Nancy Guthrie — a beloved mother, grandmother, and pillar of her community — remains missing, and every passing day heightens the urgency. The words in that latest email have left investigators, the Guthrie family, and the public stunned and terrified, wondering what desperate truth lies behind them and whether Nancy is still alive to be saved.