AZ Nancy Guthrie, 84, (mother of TODAY Show host Savannah Guthrie) missing - last seen in the Catalina foothills area on Jan 31, 2026

[Vaderman]

Exclusive | How Bitcoin exchange gave authorities’ ‘control’ over Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapper: crypto expert

“They are now the target of forensic tracking,” CEO of Lionsgate Network Bezalel Eithan Raviv said of the suspect.

pagesix.com

Authorities now have the upper hand against Nancy Guthrie’s purported kidnapper, according to a cryptocurrency expert.

Bezalel Eithan Raviv, the CEO and founder of Lionsgate Network — a crypto recovery service with expertise in Blockchain forensics — spoke with Page Six after a deposit was made into a Bitcoin wallet related to Guthrie’s ransom note late Tuesday.

“If the reported $150 transaction to the alleged ransom Bitcoin wallet is accurate, it aligns with a known investigative tactic,” Raviv said. “A small ‘test’ transfer can sometimes be used to confirm that the wallet is active and to trigger blockchain monitoring tools.”

The Israeli tech entrepreneur noted that, despite misconceptions, Bitcoin is “not anonymous” and is very much traceable.

 

[Assassino]

I think the lack of communication and proof is because NG did not survive long after being taken, and he's panicking.

I think unfortunately that is very possible. I think had Nancy either died or been gravely injured at her home, then the intruder likely would have just left her there and fled.... especially if the intruder was a stranger. Why drive around with a dead or injured victim in your car and assume that risk. The effort and risk it takes to either keep someone injured alive or hide a body if she had died is too great.

However, if she was kidnapped and then once they arrived at a location something terrible happened to her there. Maybe all the stress caused some type of a cardiac episode where she died or something, which is entirely possible at her age. Then that would be a different story. And then the kidnapper wouldn't have a choice but to do try and stall and not provide proof of life. I'm hoping for the best though still. Until we find a body, I'll keep hope alive that she's still ok.

 

[Friday Fan]

My mother's house has a door similar to that. It has the bars and glass, so you cannot reach through. I doubt she opened this door. So, either he came to disable the camera before using the door, or someone else let him in, not NG. I don't know where I saw it mentioned that NG came in through the garage, but what if someone who had been in the house knew that she always uses the garage door and that person unlocked the front door? She likely would have expected it to be locked and didn't check it before going to bed. My mother never used the front door, but occasionally, one of the kids would open it and it would have remained unlocked. She never thought about checking it, but then she left the back door unlocked while she was gone. It used to drive me a little crazy.

I was thinking maybe someone inpersonated a police officer and somehow got her to crack open the door. At this point we just don't know how they got in.

 

[raja]

Oh no not another black glove…if it doesn’t fit you must acquit. Just a little leviaty. But seriously I’m hoping something comes from the glove.

 

[Nikynoo]

I don't know, but it's interesting they hired their own given that most of law enforcement in country is already working on this. i don't understand any of this.

I think the family has lost faith in LE.

 

[connie9030]

I really hope I'm wrong, but I think they've got nothing to go on, save for the doorbell footage.

 

[oc1234]

I've seen a photo of the perp without gun and no backpack and no jacket. I've searched and searched and can't find that photo.

its on the FBI's website just google FBI Nancy G... their website comes up

 

[Friday Fan]

Exclusive | How Bitcoin exchange gave authorities’ ‘control’ over Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapper: crypto expert

“They are now the target of forensic tracking,” CEO of Lionsgate Network Bezalel Eithan Raviv said of the suspect.

pagesix.com

Authorities now have the upper hand against Nancy Guthrie’s purported kidnapper, according to a cryptocurrency expert.

Bezalel Eithan Raviv, the CEO and founder of Lionsgate Network — a crypto recovery service with expertise in Blockchain forensics — spoke with Page Six after a deposit was made into a Bitcoin wallet related to Guthrie’s ransom note late Tuesday.

“If the reported $150 transaction to the alleged ransom Bitcoin wallet is accurate, it aligns with a known investigative tactic,” Raviv said. “A small ‘test’ transfer can sometimes be used to confirm that the wallet is active and to trigger blockchain monitoring tools.”

The Israeli tech entrepreneur noted that, despite misconceptions, Bitcoin is “not anonymous” and is very much traceable.

It should say, they have an upper hand on the extortioners.....

 

[connie9030]

That doorbell video is a treasure-trove of evidence.

 

[Kapua]

From what I’ve heard experts say is if an image were attached to the emailed ransom notes, that’s supplying “extra” digital information, which is more easily traced.

Yes, digital photos contain metadata called exif. However, there are tools that can strip this metadata. If the tech person can figure out how to make their IP address untraceable, they can even more easily figure out how to strip the exif data from a digital photo.

 

[nao]

Hopefully all the name-calling and rudeness I've seen on here in the last 24 hours isn't a regular occurrence here. Just today I have been labelled ageist and homophobic for proposing theories despite being an elder gay myself!

Moo... No... I think these are good discussions...but not on this thread.
Wouldn't be a discussion if everyone agreed...moo

 

[warp3dwing]

you'd think not, but then again did we all not just watch another big profile case where the suspect drove his own car to the murder and left a sheath?

Yep! There are SO many cases out there where the perpetrator screwed up and left something behind, or something fell out of their car. There is no perfect crime.

 

[PCHS]

I think unfortunately that is very possible. I think had Nancy either died or been gravely injured at her home, then the intruder likely would have just left her there and fled.... especially if the intruder was a stranger. Why drive around with a dead or injured victim in your car and assume that risk. The effort and risk it takes to either keep someone injured alive or hide a body if she had died is too great.

However, if she was kidnapped and then once they arrived at a location something terrible happened to her there. Maybe all the stress caused some type of a cardiac episode where she died or something, which is entirely possible at her age. Then that would be a different story. And then the kidnapper wouldn't have a choice but to do try and stall and not provide proof of life. I'm hoping for the best though still. Until we find a body, I'll keep hope alive that she's still ok.

Think this is more logical - someone(s) targeted a little old lady who lived alone that they had familiarity with either through someone or through their day job and they perceived her to have money and who they thought would be an easy target and they decided to leave with her and then when they had her unfortunately something went wrong...and here we are

 

[thefragile7393]

To be clear, these were suggested by you.

a) Grogginess only lasts a few moments for most IMO, even if being awoken in the middle of the night. Regardless of whatever situation you speculate, it makes no sense for NG to still be groggy by the time she arrives at the door, IMO.
b) it was the middle of the night; I seriously doubt NG was so confused she thought someone was there to take her to church - something that usually happened during the daytime. She had functioning eyes, as far as we know.

Alternatively, I seriously doubt she opened the door in the middle of the night to a stranger unless she thought it was related to her family’s safety. There is no reason to think she thought that was the case, IMHO.

Not related to the case, but my grogginess lasts all day thanks to perimenopause so I don’t know about that

 

[NewYork625]

There was quite a bit of blood on the porch and even some trickling on to the concrete walkway. If it was a nose bleed then they would’ve had to stand there for at least a few minutes for that much to come out. The blood doesn’t make sense at all. MHO

Also, why even go up to the front door at all? Did he really think she would answer at nearly 2am when someone is blocking off the camera with some plant leaves? Then to leave through the front door is even more odd if he had forced entered through the back door. Based on the timeline, didn’t he spend around 30 minutes in the house with her?

I wonder if an accomplice who was with him could have previously entered through the back door, and the intruder at the front door was trying to get that other person to open the front door for him? Then possibly the two of them took NG out the front door?

 

[m00c0w]

I'm not LE or FBI - I think they should be better at this then me and senior elite investigators should have the ability to quickly eliminate people who are unlikely and invest resources in following people that are more suspect - this guy, it appears was quickly eliminated as a suspect only AFTER he was being surveilled for days and then brought in on some dramatic detainment. If he was so quickly eliminated why spend the time surveilling him unless they are really just lost... which it appears they may be. that is mo

He was quickly eliminated after they pursued the lead, executed a search warrant at his house, and interviewed him. Sometimes you can’t rule people out without talking to them. And sometimes there’s enough evidence someone may have been complicit in a crime that you need to prepare for violence and a hostage recovery situation.

Believe me, if they could have eliminated this dude without having to drive hours away and spend hours in an interview and search warrant execution… they definitely would have. I’m not sure what your alternate approach would be, given none of us know what police had regarding this individual at the time.

Worst case scenario - if he was involved and they just did a knock and talk and he wound up panicking and killing the hostage, what would your reaction be? If he had co-conspirators waiting at the house with the hostage and would harm her if something happened to him, what then? This isn’t a movie, and it’s not a simple black and white situation.

Just my opinion.

 

[thefragile7393]

Exclusive | How Bitcoin exchange gave authorities’ ‘control’ over Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapper: crypto expert

“They are now the target of forensic tracking,” CEO of Lionsgate Network Bezalel Eithan Raviv said of the suspect.

pagesix.com

Authorities now have the upper hand against Nancy Guthrie’s purported kidnapper, according to a cryptocurrency expert.

Bezalel Eithan Raviv, the CEO and founder of Lionsgate Network — a crypto recovery service with expertise in Blockchain forensics — spoke with Page Six after a deposit was made into a Bitcoin wallet related to Guthrie’s ransom note late Tuesday.

“If the reported $150 transaction to the alleged ransom Bitcoin wallet is accurate, it aligns with a known investigative tactic,” Raviv said. “A small ‘test’ transfer can sometimes be used to confirm that the wallet is active and to trigger blockchain monitoring tools.”

The Israeli tech entrepreneur noted that, despite misconceptions, Bitcoin is “not anonymous” and is very much traceable.

Well, one would hope, the problem is it’s still not certain that the ransom note and the kidnapping are related to each other. In my opinion.

 

[Stunned]

someone trolling LE, IMO...

My first thought also. I think it will start happening more, unfortunately. IMO

 

[UsernameRequired]

I think so. I was worried earlier they had more of a knee jerk reaction to a tip.

Seems like the Feds had more of a knee jerk reaction to their own investigation and likely felt pressure to take some kind of action against somebody and went for a hail mary. Some random guy delivering packages in Nancy's neighborhood with similar physical features.

One thing I don't think people are aware of, if the Feds bust down your door and do any kind of damage to your house or property, the car tearing it apart, etc., even if you are innocent, you will not be compensated for the damage they caused. This can be a serious financial burden to lower income people.

 

[Deepinthought52]

I don’t know if this has happened, but I think it would be fascinating of one of the sleuthers on websleuths was chosen to be on a jury for one of the large cases like this anfcwas then anle to post about the experience once trial was over. Imo