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The unsettling disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has taken a new turn with a ransom note that suggests the kidnappers are no strangers to such crimes.
Local Tucson station KGUN9 has reported that the abductors are demanding a hefty ransom of $6 million in bitcoin, with a deadline set for Monday, February 9, at 5 p.m. MT.
Tracy Walder, a former CIA officer and FBI special agent, shared insights with Page Six, emphasizing that the sophistication of the ransom note indicates a high level of expertise. “It’s clear that whoever is behind this knows exactly what they’re doing,” she noted.
Walder elaborated, “This isn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. It’s evident they practiced and meticulously planned this operation.” She added, “The individual likely thought through every detail—how to encrypt the email, which VPN to use. There’s a calculated strategy at play here.”
“This is someone who said, ‘I am going to sit down. This is how I’m going to encrypt the email, this is the VPN I’m going to use.’ They put some plan into this.”
While Walder can’t comment on if the kidnappers are “experts” in ransoms, she pointed to the encrypted email for clues. “I don’t know that everyone thinks about that. Not everyone knows bitcoin is an easier way to be untraceable. This person clearly has knowledge of these things.”
The kidnappers using bitcoin and limiting communication with the family further prevents authorities from tracking their whereabouts by the Feb. 9 deadline, according to Walder.
“I think anyone could be caught,” the former agent says. “The question is how long does that take? You have that added sense of urgency with a potential life being in jeopardy. I do think the problem is the length of time. The more tech savvy you are adds an extra layer of difficulty.
“The more communication this person has adds another layer of difficulty because this person has gone dark and only released two ransom notes, they’re not communicating a lot. They are doing that on purpose.”
Walder continued that every touch point of communication by the potential kidnappers “opens the FBI to be able to trace that.”
“I think I do feel they will be caught. I just wish it was now. That’s the problem,” Walder added.
The contributor also explained the “extra layer of difficulty” for authorities with the demand for bitcoin.
“This is money that would be laundered online,” Walder says. “It’s not going from point A to point B because that would give them up too quickly. This is going from one Bitcoin account and being laundered to another Bitcoin account and to another.
“That’s why this person is using bitcoin … to make sure it’s not traceable. Obviously nothing is completely untraceable, but it buys them more time because it makes that traceability more difficult.”
Walder added, “The FBI is getting much better at tracing bitcoin than they have in the past. It’s a newer form of money and you have to develop skills to get there.”
As for the staggering $6 million amount, the former CIA member said, “When I thought about a ransom and whatever lengths this person has gone to, I assumed it would be $5 million [or more.]
“To go through all of this trouble it has to be money that moves a needle for someone.”
Law enforcement and FBI have been frantically searching for Savannah Guthrie’s mom since she was reported missing on Feb. 1 after missing church.
She was last seen on Jan. 31 by her son-in-law Tommaso Cioni, who dropped the 84-year-old off after dinner with him and his wife, Annie Guthrie.
The “Today” host and her siblings have posted multiple videos on social media trying to make contact with the alleged abductor after a series of ransom notes were discovered.
“We received your message and we understand,” Savannah said in a video Saturday night, appearing alongside her siblings. “We beg you now to return our mother to us, so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”
Walder exclusively told Page Six the latest video felt “very contrived” and “scripted.”
“Is this a ransom for a dead body?” Walder wondered. “Are we paying to get a body or a human back? Using words like ‘celebrate’ infers memorial or funeral, but it also infers they want to have a party when she comes home.”
Late on Saturday night, law enforcement was seen back at Annie’s home conducting another search. According to reports, they left around 10:30 p.m. MT.
Pima Country Sheriff’s Department told Page Six in a statement Sunday, “This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Detectives and agents continue to conduct follow-up at multiple locations.
“Details of that follow-up are not being released at this time. Investigators have not identified any suspects, persons of interest, or vehicles connected to this case.”