FBI believes Nancy Guthrie was taken across the border as a new ransom demand surfaces with a disturbing warning

The search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old grandmother abducted from her Arizona home, has gone international. Federal investigators have now brought Mexican authorities into the case, as a new ransom demand has surfaced. This is reportedly the fifth letter sent to the family and media, and it specifically asks for millions in cryptocurrency.

Nancy Guthrie is the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie. She was taken from her home in the Catalina Foothills, just north of Tucson, Arizona, an area about 75 miles from Nogales, a key border crossing into the Mexican state of Sonora. Police describe Nancy as “sharp as a tack,” though she lives alone and has physical limitations.

According to TMZ, investigators now believe Nancy may have been taken across the border into Mexico after her early-morning abduction. The FBI has contacted Mexican authorities and asked them to look out for Nancy and her abductor. However, specific details about Mexico’s involvement remain limited. The latest ransom note also included a disturbing warning, graphically describing what will happen to Nancy if the demand is not paid. The email asks for millions in a cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin and uses a different crypto account number than the original.

The FBI and local law enforcement are clearly not on the same page in this case

There has been noticeable friction between the FBI and Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos. The sheriff has publicly stated that there is no evidence suggesting Nancy is currently in Mexico, which directly contradicts the FBI’s current focus. The two agencies have also clashed previously over evidence sharing and public statements.

FBI Director Kash Patel has faced criticism over how the case has been handled. Rather than being present in Arizona, Patel was reportedly attending a wedding in New York with his girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins. This is not the first time his whereabouts have raised concerns, as he was previously spotted enjoying leisure activities while on duty, drawing criticism from within the bureau.

Patel has also been criticized for making premature announcements, including publicly claiming a person of interest had been detained, only for that individual to be released the same day. Statements from the FBI have repeatedly contradicted what local police have said, creating confusion in the investigation. 

The bureau has also been under scrutiny for its handling of other major criminal cases, raising broader questions about its leadership and direction. Nancy’s family is desperate for answers and has pleaded for her safe return. They have also stressed that she urgently needs access to her medication.

The FBI has also sent a clear message to anyone trying to exploit the situation. According to law enforcement sources, anyone who sends fake ransom demands to the Guthrie family will face serious federal prison time. Based on what investigators have said, that is not an empty threat.