Eighteen days after Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson home, a new $6 million cryptocurrency ransom demand has surfaced - raising fresh questions about who is behind the messages and whether they are credible.
Multiple outlets report that TMZ has received another email demanding roughly $6 million in crypto in exchange for Guthrie's release. Unlike earlier reported messages that referenced Bitcoin, this latest demand allegedly involves a different cryptocurrency and includes a new digital wallet address.
But as investigators intensify efforts, one critical question remains: who sent it - and is it legitimate?
What We Know About the New Demand
According to reports, the newest email is described as more structured and "highly sophisticated" compared to earlier ransom communications. It reportedly outlines consequences if payment is not made, though specific language has not been publicly disclosed.
TMZ stated that it forwarded the email directly to the FBI and declined to release additional details.
Federal authorities have not publicly confirmed whether the ransom note is authentic. Law enforcement officials have warned that high-profile missing persons cases often attract fraudulent ransom attempts, and anyone attempting to exploit the investigation could face federal prosecution.
As of now, investigators have not indicated that proof of life has been provided.
A Pattern of Messages
The newly reported demand is not the first communication tied to the case. Earlier messages also sought approximately $6 million, while one separate email reportedly requested cryptocurrency in exchange for alleged information about the disappearance.
Authorities have not publicly verified any of the messages.
With multiple communications circulating, investigators are likely working to determine whether they originate from the same sender - or whether opportunists are attempting to insert themselves into the case.
Investigation Expands
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen on January 31. Authorities believe she was abducted in the early hours of February 1 after surveillance footage captured a masked individual near her home.
DNA recovered from gloves found near the scene did not produce matches in the national CODIS database. Family members have been ruled out as suspects.
Investigators have reviewed Border Patrol surveillance, examined gun store purchase records connected to items worn by the masked suspect, and deployed technology designed to detect potential Bluetooth signals from Guthrie's pacemaker.
Federal authorities have also reportedly contacted Mexican law enforcement as part of standard cross-border coordination. Officials have not confirmed that Guthrie was taken into Mexico.
More Urgency, Few Answers
Despite more than two weeks of investigation and tens of thousands of tips reviewed, no suspect has been publicly identified.
The emergence of another $6 million demand adds urgency - but not yet clarity - to a case that continues to draw national attention.
As of February 19, 2026, Nancy Guthrie remains missing. Investigators have not confirmed the authenticity of any ransom communication, and the identity of whoever sent the latest crypto demand remains unknown.
Authorities are urging anyone with verified information to contact federal tip lines as the search continues.
