Nancy Guthrie Update: Former FBI Official Casts Doubt on Notes Promising to Reveal Her Location
John Miller, former FBI assistant director, is raising doubts about some of the notes connected to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. Speaking on a recent episode of The Fairfax Files, Miller questioned the credibility of messages sent to TMZ claiming to have information about Guthrie's location. Miller suggested the individuals behind those communications were unlikely to have any real knowledge of the case, noting that some demanded payment-reportedly one Bitcoin-in exchange for information but provided no proof to support their claims.
"I think that this is a kidnapping gone wrong," Miller told podcast host Michael Hershman. He pointed to early ransom communications, saying, "You have a ransom demand that is crystal clear and says, ‘Just pay the money, you'll never hear from us again.' And then you have a second note that we know a little bit about, but not all of the details, that basically ends the negotiations."
Miller added that while some early communications are believed to be authentic, later messages sent to TMZ claiming to disclose Guthrie's location appear far less credible. "You have opportunists who came behind that, who couldn't prove anything, about having any particular knowledge that gave them credibility," he said. "These were people just saying, ‘Send me money, and I'll tell you who did it or where she is.' Those are almost 100% frauds."
One of the notes, sent on April 6, read, "It's unbelievable that millions have been wasted and yet here I am willing to deliver them on a silver platter since the 11th of February for a bitcoin but I am disregarded as a scam … they are free and the case is frozen but the ego's (sic) remain hot when it comes to me. Arrogance at it's finest," according to TMZ.
Whomever sent the notes requested 1/2 a Bitcoin to be paid up front and the other half to be paid after the information checks out. As far as the public is aware, authorities did not send the indvidual any money.
Investigators believe that Guthrie, 84, was abducted from her Arizona home in the middle of the night on Sunday, Feb. 1. The Pima County Sheriff's Department has been working in tandem with the FBI in hopes of solving the case. Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI (1-800-CALL-FBI).
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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 5:08 AM.