The shocking disappearance of “Today” host Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, took on a new twist Tuesday: TMZ reports Ransom letter received. Later in the day, Arizona CBS affiliate cold report I received a similar letter. The sender demanded millions of dollars in Bitcoin.
While the letters have not been confirmed, the Pima County, Arizona, Sheriff said he is “Absolutely not” Reject these claims. The Sheriff’s Office also stated byX They are aware of reports of ransom notes and take all leads very seriously.
In the case of the TMZ letter, the outlet did not reveal the Bitcoin address (a term that describes a long string of random letters and numbers, similar to a bank account), but confirmed it was a real address on the blockchain. The note included a ransom deadline and details of damaged items at the victim’s Tucson-area home, the outlet said.
Blockchain analytics firm Chainaanalysis did not speculate on the legitimacy of the letters. However, it did mention an increase in physical crimes involving cryptocurrencies. “There is a troubling increase in physical coercion attacks and kidnappings, where criminals use violence to force victims or their families to transfer assets,” a Chainaanalysis spokesperson said in a report to Fortune.
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing Sunday and is believed to have been taken from her home against her will. According to police, there was blood in the house. Los Angeles TimesAccording to police, there were signs of forced entry into the home. Associated Press. The 84-year-old was last seen on Saturday night when her family dropped her home after dinner. The next day, her relatives checked on her home after being told she had not arrived at church.
Nancy Guthrie’s daughter, Savannah, is the co-host of NBC News’ morning show “Today.” She’s getting ready to host winter coverage Olympic Games She is originally from Milan, Italy, but rushed to Arizona to reunite with her family after her mother disappeared.
The demand for Bitcoin in Guthrie’s kidnapping case comes amid an increase in violence by criminals targeting cryptocurrency owners, including recent high-profile cases in the United States. Paris and New York. These attacks are called “wrench attack“, usually targeting people who publicly reveal that they own large amounts of cryptocurrency. There is no evidence that Nancy Guthrie is a cryptocurrency owner, and if the random notes are true, the kidnappers appear to be relying on the partial anonymity provided by Bitcoin.
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