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A potential suspect in the Nancy Guthrie probe may be a woman, even if she has been using male pseudonyms in her communications with the media, as experts believe that human sources may be the best way to close an unsolved case.
“This person used several different male names, but it was always the same Bitcoin address,” TMZ founder Harvey Levin, who received a series of emails from the alleged whistleblower, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. “Other than being told they thought it might be a woman, they didn’t say why.”
The person used multiple male aliases in communications demanding payment for information sent to TMZ, though Levin said investigators recently told him they believe the sender may be a woman.
The person repeatedly said he knew the kidnappers and where Guthrie’s body was, Levin said. The FBI, which is handling aspects of the Guthrie investigation linked to the alleged ransom notes, declined to comment.
ALL WE KNOW ABOUT NANCY GUTHRIE’S POSSIBLE RANSOM NOTE
Investigators search brush near Nancy Guthrie’s home in Arizona as her photo is displayed on an overlay. Image courtesy of NBC and Fox News Digital. (Fox News Digital; Courtesy of NBC)
“They’re still looking for that person and they believe they may have found this person now,” Levin added.
Josh Ritter, a California attorney and Fox News contributor, said it’s possible the mysterious attacker could be linked to perpetrators who fit a pattern often seen in criminal investigations.
“Even if people didn’t know about it in advance, they might know about it when it becomes a story that affects the media,” he said.
WATCH: FBI source says kidnappers panicked after Nancy Guthrie’s death: TMZ
TMZ was among a number of media outlets that received alleged ransom demands in connection with Guthrie’s case — and the source later received messages from someone who claimed to have knowledge of the case.
Levin said he promised to pay the student to see if the information was released as part of a planned documentary on the case.
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FBI investigators searched the Catalina Foothills in Tucson, Ariz., on Feb. 11, 2026, as the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie continues. (DWS for Fox News Digital)
“They asked us to take down the documentary, which we did,” he told Fox News Digital. “We told them that we will not do anything without their permission, because we do not want to interfere with the investigation.
However, he said, although authorities have not been able to catch anyone who sent the ransom notes through digital forensics, old-time detective work and the ability to have an accomplice in the gab may lead investigators to the perpetrator or co-conspirators.
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“They are frustrated because they made a big effort to find out who wrote the ransom notes but to no avail, and I was talking to this person today from the FBI and this is the second time this person has said this to me, that this case may be solved in six months, a year, two years,” said Levin. “Someone goes to a bar and starts bragging about it, or my ex decides, bring up my ex, and I’m going to go to the authorities to blow the whistle … they believe that’s going to happen. That it might happen sooner or later, but they really believe it’s going to happen.”
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An armed man reaches for a Google Nest camera on Nancy Guthrie’s front door in Tucson, Arizona, in photos released on Feb. 10, 2026. (Courtesy of the FBI)
Guthrie’s daughter, “Today” co-star Savannah Guthrie, echoed that theme Tuesday when she renewed her plea for charity at a scheduled appearance.
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“I just want to take the opportunity to ask people, really beg people to come forward,” he said. “You know something. This is a news story today that’s on your radar, but this is the life my sister is living; I’m alive; my brother is alive; our families are alive; our children are alive every day. We’re grieving.”
Ritter said he hopes that the requests of this media star are heard by the right person.
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“This was not some professional job,” he added.
And under similar circumstances, co-conspirators often have a hard time keeping quiet about the crime, he said.
“I strongly believe that someone was directly involved or learned who was involved behind this,” Ritter told Fox News Digital. “And with so many mouths, it will be hard for someone to shut up, and someone will brag. Someone will say something when they are in trouble.”
Ritter said that after nearly 20 weeks, the most likely success will come from witnesses or colleagues rather than research advances.
“Whatever intelligence work they have to do, or any work with DNA, they may have done what they saw until the limit was reached and nothing came of it,” he said. “So in my opinion, the chances are very good that this thing has someone.”
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FBI agents raid homes near the home of Nancy Guthrie in Tucson, Ariz., on Feb. 6, 2026, as the investigation into his disappearance continues. (Fox News Digital’s Kat Ramirez)
Levin said federal investigators seem to believe that public sources can end up breaking the case and are always focusing on people who may have inside information about the kidnapping.
“Someone just needs to be brave enough to be afraid for whatever reason to show up and get over that fear, or the money is attractive enough and they’ll come for it,” Ritter said.
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Anyone with information on Guthrie’s case is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI. There is a combined reward of more than $1.2 million for information leading to the case.
Tips can be submitted anonymously to Tucson’s Crime Stoppers agent, 88-Crime, at 1-520-882-7463.
