Bitcoin payments continue to play a role in the search for clues to the whereabouts of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old whose mysterious kidnapping earlier this month drew national attention. In the latest development, a Tucson native has created a GoFundMe account The purpose was to purchase Bitcoin to obtain information about what happened to the mother of “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie.
this to fund me The campaign didn’t gain much traction, raising only about $1,500 of its $65,000 goal. Sean Breeden of Tucson, where Guthrie disappeared, organized the event and wrote on the page: “Every bit of support helps bring this tragic event closer to closure.” Breeden did not immediately respond to a request for an interview.
Development of grassroots fundraising activities TMZ reports On Monday, it received four letters from the same person demanding payment in Bitcoin in exchange for information about Guthrie’s whereabouts. In a recent note, this person requested $50,000 in Bitcoin, and in previous commentsthe person demanded one Bitcoin, equivalent to approximately $67,000.
TMZ did not respond to a request for a copy of the letter. The Pima County Sheriff’s Office declined to release any further information about the case or the letter in a note to police. wealth.
This isn’t the first time Bitcoin payments have played a role in the search for Nancy Guthrie. Last week, local Arizona television station KGUN 9 reported that it received a note from Guthrie’s kidnapper that said Demand $6 million in Bitcoin in exchange for her release. Savannah Guthrie released a video exist Instagramshe said “we will pay,” but there was no evidence the family had paid any ransom.
The person who wrote the note demanding Bitcoin payment provided no proof of Nancy Guthrie’s life, and authorities have not said the ransom letters came from her actual kidnapper.
Criminals seek Bitcoin payments in part because transactions are instant. If the Guthrie family were to pay the ransom, they would likely have to use a cryptocurrency exchange to convert the cash into Bitcoin. They must then send that Bitcoin to the address listed by the alleged kidnappers in the ransom letter.
Bitcoin trading also poses risks to bad actors. These payments are public on the blockchain and can be tracked by law enforcement. Cryptocurrency exchanges may freeze payments if they suspect criminal activity.
It’s been two and a half weeks since Nancy Guthrie disappeared, and authorities still haven’t found a suspect. Pima County Sheriff’s Office stated in X post Members of the Guthrie family have been ruled out as possible suspects. this FBI found a glove This appeared to match the clothing worn by a masked man in surveillance video in front of Guthrie’s home the night Guthrie disappeared. The glove was sent for DNA testing.
Savannah Guthrie said in a statement video She broke the news on Instagram on Monday to anyone who knew her mother’s whereabouts. “It’s never too late to do the right thing,” she said.