The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie from her desert home has baffled and horrified millions of Americans who watch her daughter Savannah co-anchor of one of the country’s most popular morning TV shows
A new letter demanding a ransom for information relating to the disappearance of US news anchor Savannah Guthrie’s mother has been sent, it has emerged.
The note, demanding one bitcoin (worth £49,228), was sent to US news outlet TMZ in exchange for the “name of the individual involved” in the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie. It is the third alleged note sent since Nancy, 84 was reported missing on February 1.
According to TMZ host Harvey Levin, the note read: “If they want the name of the individual involved, then I want 1 Bitcoin to the following wallet. Time is more than relevant”.
It is claimed two previous ransom notes were sent to news outlets but two deadlines for paying have passed. The third letter contained details of a working bitcoin address, Harvey said during an appearance on Fox News.
He said: “They said they want one Bitcoin sent to a Bitcoin address that we have confirmed is active. It’s a real Bitcoin address, and as they put it, time is more than relevant. So we have no idea whether this is real or not. But they are making a demand.”
The bitcoin address is different from the one featured in the original ransom note, which was sent to two local TV news stations along with TMZ last week. TMZ said they have forwarded the note to the FBI.
The chilling revelation comes as a former FBI agent said a black glove found on the roadside near Nancy’s home in Tucson, Arizona, could hold crucial DNA evidence to help finally unmask her kidnapper.
Michael Harrigan, who oversaw the FBI National Academy, said it would “be significant” if confirmed to be related to the investigation.
The discarded glove – which was discovered on Wednesday – resembles the ones worn by a suspected masked kidnapper caught on Nancy’s home security camera.
Mr Harrigan told the New York Post: “The question would be whether that glove was like a nitrile glove that was placed over another glove or whether it went against the skin.
“Whether it’s against the skin or over another glove would determine the likelihood of DNA being transferred to it from the suspect.”
Nancy, mother of Today show host Savannah, was reported missing on February 1 and authorities say her blood was found on the front porch of her home.
It also comes after the FBI has released images of a masked person in their bid to find the missing pensioner in the first major breakthrough in a case that is gripped the US.
The grainy black and white grabs showed a man wearing a ski mask, thick gloves, a holstered gun and a backpack approaching Nancy’s front door on the night of her disappearance, before trying to cover the camera with shrubbery.
The FBI say the camera was disconnected shortly afterwards, so it doesn’t record what happened to the elderly widow and grandmother – or why her blood was found on the doorstep.
Meanwhile, Police have released a man who was quizzed on suspicion of kidnap. Delivery driver Carlos Palazuelos, who chose to identify himself, lives about an hour north of Nancy’s home.
He said: “They told me I was being detained for kidnapping. I asked them, ‘Kidnapping of who?’ “I told them I might have delivered a package to their house but I never kidnapped anybody.”
Nancy’s distraught daughter Savannah shared the new video on Instagram, saying: “Someone out there recognises this person. We believe she is still out there.” The FBI is offering a $50,000 (£36,000) reward for information.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.