Disturbing Ransom Emerges in Nancy Guthrie Case as FBI Turns to Genetic Genealogy
The search for Nancy Guthrie entered its 20th day on Friday, with a disturbing new ransom note demanding a new ransom and threatening consequences if it is not met.
Entertainment news site TMZ said this week it had received and turned over to the FBI a new ransom message outlining a “highly sophisticated demand involving a cryptocurrency other than itcoin.”
“The email demands a dollar amount similar to the $6 million ransom demand in the previous email we received, days after the kidnapping,” TMZ reported. “This email graphically describes the consequences if the ransom isn't paid.”
Further, the crypto account number is different from the original, the news site said.
The mother of NBC host Savannah Guthrie, Nancy Guthrie, 84, disappeared in the early morning hours of Feb. 1 and was reported missing later that day after she failed to show up at a friend’s house for a virtual church service. Law enforcement officials have received multiple tips and leads – but have yet to name a suspect.
One of the strongest pieces of evidence to date remains a doorbell video showing a masked individual on her front porch in the middle of the night, wearing gloves and a backpack before disabling the camera. There is no known footage of Nancy Guthrie from that night.
The much-discussed glove found two miles from her home also failed to provide the breakthrough investigators had wanted. The FBI said DNA testing showed no match to evidence at the scene and no match within CODIS, the bureau’s national DNA database.
NewsNation’s Brian Entin said the FBI will now use investigative genetic genealogy, a process in which analysts compare unidentified DNA found at the scene to profiles in public ancestry databases, identifying possible relatives and then tracing family lines to narrow the suspect pool. Such a method, though, can take weeks if not months. The process was credited with helping identify Bryan Kohberger in the 2022 murder of four University of Idaho students.
The FBI previously released a description of the suspect in Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapping, saying he is about 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-10 with a medium build and was carrying a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack sold exclusively at Walmart.
Meanwhile, the reward for her kidnapper’s capture was increased to $200,000 this week. Individuals with tips are asked to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
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Glove DNA Could Be Key in Search for Savannah Guthrie’s Mom: ‘We Still Have Hope’
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images / Brandon Bell / Staff
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published February 20, 2026.
