$6M Bitcoin Ransom Wallet For Savannah Guthrie's Mom Reportedly Still Empty As Final Deadline Looms

A bitcoin wallet linked to a $6 million ransom for Savannah Guthrie's missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, remains empty as a critical deadline approaches.

The 84-year-old was reported missing on February 1 after missing church attendance, and the search for her has now entered its ninth day.

Over the weekend, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings released a heartfelt video pleading for Nancy's safe return, while authorities continue investigating the alleged ransom notes.

The bitcoin wallet reportedly set up to receive a $6 million ransom for Savannah Guthrie's missing mother remains empty as a critical deadline approaches.

Over the weekend, Savannah and her family responded to an alleged ransom demand, expressing their willingness to pay to ensure Nancy's safe return.

As reported by The Blast, the note originally asked for payment by last Thursday but also included a second deadline set for Monday at 5 p.m. local time in Tucson.

However, according to TMZ, despite the looming cutoff, the publicly visible balance in the wallet has not changed, showing zero transactions.

Meanwhile, the Pima County Sheriff's Department confirmed the investigation is ongoing, with no suspects or persons of interest identified. Investigators were even spotted inspecting a septic tank behind Nancy's home over the weekend.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing on February 1 after she failed to attend church. She was last seen by her daughter, Annie, and son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, the night before. The search has now entered its ninth day.

In a heartfelt video released late Saturday, Savannah, flanked by siblings Camron and Annie, pleaded for their mother's return.

"We beg you now to return our mother to us, so that we can celebrate with her," she said, emphasizing that the family is prepared to pay.

Meanwhile, billboards featuring Nancy's image have appeared in high-traffic areas in Arizona and neighboring states to aid the search.

NBC law-enforcement reporter Tom Winter observed that the tone of Savannah's latest video appeared more somber compared to earlier footage.

"I think it's important to note what that video doesn't say, as much as what it does say," he noted.

Unlike the initial message, Winter explained, this latest video does not mention any deadline or request proof that Nancy is safe.

"There's a discussion of bringing Nancy home to us so we can celebrate with her," he said.

This video followed reports that the alleged kidnappers had sent a second note to a local television station, although the contents of that message remain undisclosed.

The first note, circulated to multiple media outlets, demanded $6 million. In contrast to the family's initial response to the ransom demand, the new video does not ask for evidence of Nancy's safety.

NBC's Tom Winter remarked, "When you look at this video, you say what was in the second note? I have not personally seen it, but it does appear there has been a shift here, at least a shift in messaging."

Authorities have yet to confirm whether either of the ransom notes, including the original $6 million bitcoin demand due Monday, is genuine or part of a scam.

Adding to the uncertainty, former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker expressed skepticism about whether Nancy Guthrie is truly being held by kidnappers.

"I'm very skeptical of this," he told Fox News' "The Big Weekend Show" on Sunday, as reported by The Blast. "Is this really a kidnapping? Does somebody really have her, and is she really alive?"

Swecker noted that in authentic kidnapping cases, proof of life is usually easy to provide, a step that has not occurred here in any verifiable way.

"If this was a kidnapping, it would be a very simple matter to authenticate and provide proof of life," he explained. "You have to allow for the possibility that this was something more or something other than a kidnapping."

Experts also suggest that the ransom note for Savannah's mother may hint at an international origin.

The note's specification that the bitcoin ransom be paid in US dollars, instead of simply stating the amount, raised suspicions about the locations of the note's authors.

"Why would you use that if you're a domestic person? That points to somebody who might be potentially outside the country, which also lends the potential for this being a scam," former FBI agent Michael Harrigan told the New York Post.

"If you're domestic, why would you ever put 'USD?' You put six million," Harrigan added.