Former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer disclosed to Newsweek that she received four ransom notes related to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, suggesting scammers are exploiting public interest in the case. Coffindaffer explained that these emails, demanding bitcoin payments for Guthrie’s return, were sent to her personal email and included an AI-generated image that appeared to depict Guthrie. She chose not to reply and reported them to the FBI.
Emails and Scam Nature
The emails arrived over two days in April, with demands escalating from 25 bitcoins to a reduced 2 bitcoins, accompanied by Bible references and a QR code for a bitcoin wallet. Coffindaffer suspects the messages were linked to notes recently sent to Lauren Serpa, Guthrie’s neighbor. A note advised Guthrie was alive in Mexico in exchange for bitcoin. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department deemed these notes ‘not credible.’
“Anyone receiving messages on Nancy Guthrie should report it to law enforcement,” the department urges in a statement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Newsweek reached out to the sheriff’s department and the FBI for additional comments.
Investigation and Ongoing Case
Guthrie, mother of ‘Today’ co-host Savannah Guthrie, went missing near Tucson on January 31, 2026. Authorities suspect she was abducted, with blood traces found at her residence. Surveillance footage revealed a masked individual outside her home on the night she disappeared, considered a suspect now. Despite significant efforts, there have been no major breakthroughs over eight months later.
The AI-generated image and emails had Coffindaffer cautious due to the use of her private email address, unknown to many.
Reason for Targeting
Coffindaffer believes she was targeted because she advocated for ‘tickling the wire’—a tactic in law enforcement to draw out suspicious behavior. She proposed that paying for ransom demands might uncover clues to the sender’s identity, a stance she shared publicly. She felt the group closely monitored the case, hoping someone would succumb to their tactics.
She firmly states, “The messages were not from those responsible. They were likely extortionists.” Both she and an FBI agent shared this view, agreeing the notes aimed to scam money rather than provide real information.
Warnings and Legal Precedent
Coffindaffer referenced the sentencing of Derrick Callella, a California man, who received probation for sending false ransom messages to Guthrie’s family, believing the leniency set a poor example. She highlights organized scammers’ tactics in targeting emotionally vulnerable individuals, stressing immediate reporting to the FBI without paying demands.
Release of Ransom Notes
In late July, authorities released early ransom notes sent during the initial phases of Guthrie’s disappearance. One demanded $4 million in bitcoins, threatening Guthrie’s life. The note included specific details about her residence, pointing to intimate knowledge of the crime scene. Another note, days later, claimed she had died shortly after being taken, positing ‘She is buried in nature now.’
While some notes were identified as fake, the FBI continues to assess others that may contain legitimate leads.