Efforts to locate Nancy Guthrie, who was abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona, have taken an unconventional turn as a local resident has initiated a crowdfunding campaign to assist the investigation. Shawn Breeden, a native of Tucson, launched a GoFundMe page titled “Help Find Nancy Guthrie,” seeking donations to purchase bitcoin. The intent is to provide the Guthrie family with cryptocurrency to potentially pay for information regarding Nancy’s location.
The campaign comes in response to a demand received by investigators for 1 bitcoin—valued at approximately $65,000—as ransom for the identity of the alleged kidnapper. This request was communicated via email to the media earlier this month. Breeden mentioned that any surplus funds raised beyond the goal could be donated to law enforcement agencies, including the FBI or local police, to assist with the substantial costs associated with the ongoing investigation.
As of Monday morning, the GoFundMe page had raised $115 from four donors toward the $65,000 target. The fundraising reflects growing public concern and a willingness to explore alternative funding methods to resolve the case.
Nancy Guthrie, aged 84, is the mother of Savannah Guthrie, a host for the “TODAY” show. She was forcibly taken from her Tucson residence on February 1 in what law enforcement has described as a bold kidnapping. Authorities have recently recovered DNA evidence from a glove found at the scene believed to be connected to the suspect. This evidence is being processed through the FBI’s CODIS database in hopes of identifying the perpetrator.
Law enforcement continues to investigate the abduction, with no suspects cleared to date, and both local and federal agencies remain involved. The demand for bitcoin as a ransom or payment remains a key development in this case, prompting unusual fundraising efforts such as the GoFundMe campaign. The investigation is ongoing with multiple leads being pursued.
