An anonymous emailer who claims inside knowledge of the abduction of Nancy Guthrie — the 84-year-old mother of NBC "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie — is now asserting possession of video evidence showing an alleged suspect with the missing woman, TMZ founder Harvey Levin disclosed. The sender, who has contacted Levin in a series of messages since the early days of the case, says the footage is stored on a phone hidden in a secure location, along with photographs and identifying information for two people the sender claims were directly involved. Investigators remain divided over whether the communications are credible.
What the Emailer Claims to Possess
The sender described the hidden phone as containing, in Levin's account, "a short video of the main guy with Nancy the day that was probably her last, pictures of both involved, names and addresses and age." The message also asserts that two kidnappers were directly involved in the abduction — a detail that, if verified, would mark a significant development in the case.
Critically, TMZ says it has authenticated the message in part because it included a Bitcoin account number that had not been made public but had appeared in earlier communications from the same sender. The emailer has previously sought payments of up to $100,000 for the claimed information and is now asking for a single Bitcoin, valued at approximately $60,000 as of Friday afternoon.
Why Investigators Are Split
The credibility of the messages remains contested. Sources close to the investigation, speaking to Fox News and Fox News Digital, say some investigators believe all the ransom-related communications are fraudulent. Others are reluctant to dismiss them outright while Nancy Guthrie's location remains unknown.
Levin, for his part, challenged the sender publicly on X, urging the person to submit the evidence rather than negotiate. He said he forwarded the email to the FBI, which had not responded to a request for comment as of publication. A criminal profiler cited in separate reporting has also cast doubt on the authenticity of ransom notes connected to the case, saying the demands do not align with a genuine abductor's typical behavior.
The emailer appeared to be monitoring news coverage, denying involvement in a recent false tip about a burial site in Mexico that circulated widely online.
The Reward Pool and How to Report Tips
A combined reward of more than $1.2 million is now available for information that leads to a resolution in the case. Savannah Guthrie has put up more than $1 million for her mother's safe return. Tucson's Crime Stoppers affiliate, 88-Crime, is separately offering $102,500 for information leading to an arrest, and tips to that organization can be submitted anonymously by calling 1-520-882-7463.
Anyone with information is also urged to contact the FBI directly at 1-800-CALL-FBI.