Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, remains missing after authorities say she was likely abducted from her Tucson-area home in the early hours of February 1. Savannah shared an emotional message online, saying the family still believes her mother is alive and waiting to be found. A ransom note reportedly sent to media outlets demanded $6 million in bitcoin, with payment deadlines days apart, though officials have not publicly confirmed the details. Security experts reviewing the note say the suspect appears organized and deliberate, but may have made a critical mistake by including a real bitcoin wallet address, which investigators can sometimes trace through blockchain analysis.

Crypto forensics specialists explain that while many criminals assume cryptocurrency payments are untraceable, digital transactions often leave trails, especially when funds are later converted into traditional currency through exchanges. The FBI says agents nationwide are assisting the Tucson investigation, though they have not identified a suspect or confirmed continued contact between kidnappers and the Guthrie family. Nancy Guthrie was last seen returning home after spending a normal evening with relatives, and concern grew when she failed to appear at church the next morning, prompting a large-scale search. Authorities continue to ask the public for help, urging anyone with information to contact the FBI tip line as investigators work around the clock, hoping that community assistance and ongoing efforts will lead to her safe return.