Former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer shared with Newsweek that she received four ransom notes related to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. Coffindaffer believes these notes were sent by scammers looking to exploit the widespread interest in the case. She received four emails within two days demanding bitcoin payment for Guthrie’s release along with an AI-generated image of Guthrie.
Emails and Ransom Requests
Coffindaffer stated that the emails were sent to her personal email, which few people know. The first message came on April 10 at 12:30 p.m., with only an AI image of Guthrie. Another email arrived at 12:37 p.m. from the same address, demanding 25 bitcoins for Guthrie’s release and citing a Bible verse. The message declared, “No one sees Mrs. Nancy Guthrie without me, I need 25 BTC to bring Mrs. Nancy Guthrie back home within 12 hours, she’s alive.” The same image appeared in both emails, similar to one received by a neighbor, Lauren Serpa, who also got a ransom demand claiming Guthrie was in Mexico.
On April 10 at 3:52 p.m., Coffindaffer received a third email that reiterated the bitcoin demand. The fourth email came the next day at 11:26 a.m., again including a Bible reference and requesting 2 bitcoins, providing a QR code for a bitcoin wallet. Discussions with Serpa revealed that the bitcoin wallet addresses matched, although Newsweek has not confirmed this.
Public Warnings and Investigation
Pima County Sheriff’s Department advised, “Anyone who receives a text or communication related to Nancy Guthrie should report it to law enforcement. Scammers may try to exploit this situation. Do not provide money or personal details in response to unsolicited messages.” The investigation remains active and ongoing.
Coffindaffer believes she was targeted due to her public suggestion that paying ransom notes could expose scammers’ identities. She had previously discussed the potential strategy of “tickling the wire,” a law enforcement technique to provoke suspects into revealing information, with a Newsweek interview and a TMZ report on ransom notes received by media.
Scams and Warnings
Coffindaffer shared these insights with the FBI, identifying the messages as from “extortionists.” This view was similar to her FBI discussions, emphasizing these notes were unlikely from Guthrie’s actual kidnappers. Previously, fake ransom notes led to the sentencing of Derrick Callella for harassing Guthrie’s family.
Organized extortion rings often target families of missing persons, leveraging people’s empathetic responses. These scams generate significant money by targeting compassionate individuals. Coffindaffer advised anyone who receives such messages to avoid responding and immediately inform the FBI. She stressed, “Do not pay, contact the FBI.”
Background on Ransom Notes
In late July, amid Guthrie’s ongoing disappearance investigation, authorities disclosed ransom note contents sent to media outlets in the initial days. A February 2 note to a Tucson TV station demanded $4 million in bitcoin, threatening Guthrie’s life if unpaid. It referenced specifics from Guthrie’s home suggesting insider knowledge. Another note on February 6, claiming Guthrie had died, stated, “She is buried in nature now.”
The FBI Phoenix office acknowledged that some notes were clear extortion attempts, while others might hold validity and require further examination.