An American missionary held in captivity in Niger for nine months will soon reunite with his family. 
Christian missionary pilot Kevin Rideout is free and safe with American officials after his kidnapping last year, his mission organization said Friday. It is not yet known how he escaped captivity or what group was holding him, but Islamist terror groups run rampant in Niger.
Rideout, a father of four, was working with the Evangelical organization Serving in Mission (SIM) when he was kidnapped from Niamey, Niger, on October 21, 2025. 
“We are grateful to confirm that our good friend and brother in Christ, Kevin Rideout, has been released after over nine months in captivity,” the organization said in a statement. “Kevin is in good health in the care of US officials. He will soon be reunited with Krista [Rideout’s wife], his children, and his extended family.”
President Donald Trump celebrated Rideout&#8217;s freedom, noting that the White House aided the return.
&#8220;I am proud to announce that Kevin Rideout, a wonderful Christian Missionary, is back in United States Custody. Kevin was kidnapped by Jihadi terrorists in West Africa — The epicenter of Islamist terrorism, where there have been more deadly attacks in the past year than anywhere else on Earth,&#8221; Trump posted on Truth Social. &#8220;Kevin, the United States of America looks forward to welcoming you HOME. Glad to have helped!&#8221;
The Trump administration has been focused on securing Rideout’s release since his kidnapping. At the time, they <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/11/02/niger-american-missionary-kidnapping-trump/">responded</a> by saying it was a “top priority for the Trump administration to look after the safety of every American.” The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/14/world/africa/american-missionary-niger-rideout-released.html">described</a> freeing Rideout as a “major priority” for the White House.
The Rideout family thanked everyone for their prayers during the long ordeal. 
“Krista and the rest of Kevin’s family are profoundly grateful for the prayers offered on their behalf by people around the world throughout his captivity, and in particular for the deep level of prayer and support offered by our SIM family,” SIM said. “We ask that you respect the privacy of the family while they reconnect after this time apart.”
SIM works in over 70 countries and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina. 
Rideout was seized from his home roughly 150 yards from Niger’s presidential office, the Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/11/02/niger-american-missionary-kidnapping-trump/">reported</a> at the time of his kidnapping. 
About 99% of Niger identifies as Muslim, and violent groups like the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, Boko Haram, and JNIM all have a presence in the West African country. 
Analysts who spoke with the Post believe the kidnapping was most likely carried out by Islamic State Sahel Province, which primarily operates across Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. 
During the Biden administration, Niger kicked American troops out of the country in the aftermath of a coup and increasing Russian ties. 
Niger comes in as the 26th worst country in terms of Christian persecution, <a href="https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/persecution/countries/niger/">according</a> to watchdog Open Doors. The organization said that Islamist groups often operate with impunity and there is little rule of law in the country. 
“Any Christians living in places dominated by these extremist groups will be targeted. Believers — especially converts from Islam — must worship in secret, living under the constant threat of violence, abduction and death,” Open Doors said in its most recent report.

Kevin Rideout.

Kidnapped American Missionary’s Family Gets The News They’ve Waited Nine Months To Hear

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A Georgia mother&#8217;s routine Instacart delivery turned into a nightmare after a man allegedly stole her vehicle with her two-year-old daughter still strapped into the back seat, leading to a dramatic rescue that later took a disturbing turn.
Newly released 911 audio and police body camera footage show the frantic moments after the theft — and the swift rescue that ended with officers arresting the suspect and safely recovering the child less than 15 minutes later.
&#8220;Someone just stole my car and it has my 2-year-old daughter in it,&#8221; the distraught mother told an Atlanta 911 dispatcher. When the dispatcher asked if the child was still inside the vehicle, the mother responded through tears, &#8220;Yes, my 2-year-old daughter was in the backseat. I was dropping off an Instacart order and I came back outside and my car is gone. My daughter was inside.&#8221;
According to the Atlanta Police Department, the incident unfolded around 4:30 p.m. on July 30 after the mother left her vehicle running while delivering an Instacart order. Investigators said she estimated she was away from the vehicle for less than four minutes before discovering it had been stolen.
Officers with the department&#8217;s Auto Crimes Enforcement Unit immediately began searching for the vehicle, using the city&#8217;s network of license plate readers to quickly locate it at a nearby Publix shopping center.
Body camera footage shows officers surrounding the stolen vehicle with weapons drawn before ordering the suspect to surrender.
&#8220;Hands up! Hands up!&#8221; an officer shouted. &#8220;What you&#8217;re gonna do is you&#8217;re going to get out and face away from me,&#8221; the officer instructed. &#8220;Get out the car, slow. Put your hands behind your back.&#8221; The suspect complied and was taken into custody without further incident as the toddler cried from inside the vehicle.
&#8220;It&#8217;s okay, baby,&#8221; another officer can be heard saying as she comforted the screaming and crying toddler.
Police identified the suspect as 21-year-old Saleem Martin. He has been charged with kidnapping, theft by taking, simple battery, entering an automobile, cruelty to children, and criminal attempt to commit a felony.
While police initially said the toddler appeared unharmed, court documents obtained by <a href="https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/warrant-allegations-kidnapping-case-man-took-car-with-2-year-old-girl-inside/85-5379dfd1-ee97-4935-87f1-7923f0751382">local reporters</a> revealed disturbing new allegations. According to an arrest warrant, the child&#8217;s mother noticed the bottom of her daughter&#8217;s dress had been unbuttoned after they were reunited. When asked what happened, the two-year-old allegedly told her mother, &#8220;the man did it,&#8221; referring to Martin, according to the warrant.
The warrant further alleges officers found Martin with both hands on the child&#8217;s torso as he attempted to duck down and hide between the seats when police surrounded the vehicle. Atlanta police said its Special Victims Unit has joined the investigation. Martin told investigators he had only been touching the child because he was trying to calm her down after she began crying.
He also reportedly claimed he stole the running vehicle because he was trying to &#8220;get back to New Jersey&#8221; and did not realize the toddler was inside until after he had driven away. Investigators further claim Martin admitted he discarded an iPad found inside the vehicle because he believed it would be used to track his location.
Police credited the city&#8217;s license plate reader system with helping officers locate the stolen vehicle, arrest the suspect, and safely rescue the toddler before she could be taken farther away.

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WATCH: Toddler Rescued After Car Theft Takes Disturbing Turn

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Authorities investigating the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie on Friday released the full text of two previously undisclosed <a href="https://x.com/PimaSheriff/status/2083266827707363582?s=20">ransom notes</a>, hoping the public can identify the author by analyzing the writing style nearly six months after the 84-year-old grandmother vanished.
The Pima County Sheriff&#8217;s Office said the newly released notes contain &#8220;distinctive patterns of word choice, syntax, and phraseology&#8221; that could help identify the person responsible for Guthrie&#8217;s kidnapping.
The first note, sent to KOLD on February 2 and addressed to NBC &#8220;Today&#8221; host Savannah Guthrie, described details inside Nancy Guthrie&#8217;s home, including a damaged flood light and a white Apple Watch near her bed. It demanded $4 million, then $6 million, for the 84-year-old&#8217;s safe return by a February 9 deadline.
&#8220;She will be held for ransom and once payment is received she will be released unharmed,&#8221; the note addressed to the Today Show host read. &#8220;If payment is not received by the last deadline on Monday the 9th at 5 p.m., she will be killed.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Nancy Guthrie Investigation Update: Video &amp; Ransom Note Details 1/3 <a href="https://t.co/O0HDb8asMX">pic.twitter.com/O0HDb8asMX</a>
— Pima County Sheriff&#8217;s Department (@PimaSheriff) <a href="https://x.com/PimaSheriff/status/2083266827707363582?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2026</a></blockquote>
The full note also included additional threats that investigators had not previously made public.
&#8220;Your mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands. It is in the best interest of everyone to have this completed as soon as possible. You will not be able to contact me from here on out, there will be no negotiation. Do not play games, law enforcement will not be able to help you.&#8221;
A second note, sent on February 6 and addressed to the &#8220;Guthrie Family,&#8221; claimed Nancy Guthrie had died shortly after being abducted.
&#8220;We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition. We never intended to hurt her, that was not our intention. She perished shortly after she was taken. We believe it was heart related,&#8221; the note said.
&#8220;She is buried in nature now. Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome. We want your family to know this and hope you all can find peace. We are truly sorry.&#8221;
Savannah Guthrie said during a March <a href="https://www.today.com/news/watch-full-savannah-guthrie-interview-rcna265446" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with Hoda Kotb that she believed the two ransom notes were authentic. While several other letters have surfaced during the investigation, the family has publicly acknowledged only the two released Friday by the sheriff&#8217;s office.
Investigators said they are releasing the full notes because they believe someone who has interacted with the author may recognize the writing style.
&#8220;These communications reveal distinctive patterns of word choice, syntax, and phraseology that reflect the writer&#8217;s unique linguistic style,&#8221; the sheriff&#8217;s office said in a press release.
As the six-month anniversary of Nancy Guthrie&#8217;s disappearance approaches, investigators are also asking the public to revisit the FBI images showing a masked man outside her home before she vanished. Authorities believe the individual may have surveilled the property on more than one day before abducting Guthrie during the early morning hours of February 1.
Investigators urged anyone who noticed unusual changes in someone&#8217;s behavior around that time, including sudden travel, unexplained injuries, vehicle cleaning or repairs, or an unusual interest in the investigation, to contact law enforcement.
Earlier this week, Savannah Guthrie shared an emotional Instagram video describing the family&#8217;s ordeal as &#8220;a nightmare that will not end&#8221; and begged for her mom’s abductor to &#8220;do the right thing now.&#8221;
&#8220;Help us bring this situation to an end. For all of us, no matter where we’ve been or what we’ve done, I believe there is always a way home,&#8221; Savannah said. &#8220;Please make the right choice.&#8221;
The FBI continues to offer a reward of more than $1 million for information leading to Nancy Guthrie&#8217;s recovery. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Credit: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images

A Chilling Piece Of The Nancy Guthrie Mystery Has Just Been Made Public

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Listen to the latest episode of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/fng-ep-15?elementPosition=8&amp;row=2&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel">Finding Nancy Guthrie</a>, a special Daily Wire true crime podcast with reporter Lynden Blake on the most shocking missing-person case in America.
<iframe style="border: 0; border-radius: 4px; width: 1px; min-width: 100%; height: 2400px;" src="https://go.arena.im/embed?publisher=daily-wire&amp;event=UwKW5JE&amp;v=2">﻿</iframe>

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LIVE UPDATES: Fresh Clue Emerges In Savannah Guthrie’s Mom Kidnapping Case As FBI Takes Closer Look

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true crime

Police in Omaha, Nebraska, shot and killed a woman who slashed the face of a 3-year-old boy during a kidnapping attempt at Walmart on Tuesday, authorities said.
The attacker, who authorities have not identified, was confronted by police just outside of the Walmart as she was holding a knife to the young child, who was sitting in a shopping cart, Omaha Police Deputy Chief Scott Gray said. The woman refused verbal commands from the officers and then slashed the 3-year-old boy across the face before at least one officer opened fire and killed her.
The toddler was taken to the hospital after suffering &#8220;a rather large laceration across the left side of the face,&#8221; according to the deputy police chief. Authorities believe the young boy will survive. No one else was injured in the kidnapping attempt or the shooting.
&#8220;The officers gave the suspect commands,&#8221; Gray said. &#8220;There is video that shows the suspect swiping the knife at the child, cutting him across the face.&#8221;
Police said the child&#8217;s &#8220;caretaker&#8221; was shopping at Walmart with the toddler seated in a shopping cart when she was confronted by the suspect, who was armed with a large knife, which investigators believe she stole from the store, ABC&#8217;s Omaha affiliate KETV <a href="https://www.ketv.com/article/omaha-walmart-shooting-officers-kill-woman-kidnapping/71015802">reported</a>. The perpetrator then allegedly snatched the child from the caretaker, &#8220;essentially kidnapping the child,&#8221; and ordered the caretaker to walk in front of the shopping cart as they exited the store. The woman held a knife up to the child as they walked.
After walking out of the store, the two women had a verbal &#8220;back and forth&#8221; before police arrived on the scene at around 9:20 a.m. local time, Gray said. Authorities do not believe that the attacker and the caretaker knew each other, adding that it remains unclear why the perpetrator targeted the woman and the young boy. It is also not known whether the caretaker was the child&#8217;s mother or someone else.

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Every Parent’s Nightmare Inside Walmart Ends With A Split-Second Decision

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An American journalist has reportedly been freed after being held captive for more than a week by an Iran-backed militia, with the group demanding she &#8220;leave the country immediately&#8221; as a condition of her release.
In late March, Shelly Kittleson was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-video-shows-moment-american-female-journalist-is-kidnapped-in-iraq?author=Nathan+Gay&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=WATCH%3A+Video+Shows+Moment+American+Female+Journalist+Is+Kidnapped+In+Iraq">stopped</a> in the middle of a road in Baghdad by a group of armed men who then threw her into a van and fled the city. The kidnappers were later identified as members of Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shiite Iraqi militia.
Kataib Hezbollah said in a Tuesday statement on Telegram that it had decided to release Kittleson following productive discussions with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. The militia said they had an “appreciation of the patriotic stances” of the prime minister, and released the journalist &#8220;on the condition that she leaves the country immediately.”
Middle Eastern outlet Al-Monitor, which Kittleson worked for prior to her kidnapping, <a href="https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/us-journalist-shelly-kittleson-released-iran-backed-kataib-hezbollah-iraq">reported</a> that two Iraqi officials confirmed Kittleson&#8217;s release, and according to one official, Kittleson was in the Iraqi prime minister&#8217;s office on Tuesday.
The officials declined to give further details on her release, and neither the Iraqi nor U.S. government has verified Kittleson&#8217;s release at the time of publication.
Alhurra, an Arabic outlet based in Washington, D.C., <a href="https://alhurra.com/en/17856" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> Monday, citing Iraqi intelligence sources, that Kittleson had been moved to a militia-controlled area in Iraq&#8217;s Babil province — which is known as a hub for smuggling operations and attacks on U.S. forces — where she was believed to be held as a &#8220;human shield&#8221; against American strikes. The outlet also reported that Kataib Hezbollah was seeking the release of four of its members detained by Iraqi authorities for their role in attacks on Syria. It is unclear if the Iraqi government met this demand.
Kataib Hezbollah released footage purporting to show Kittleson earlier Tuesday, with her supposedly admitting to gathering intelligence on Iranian-backed militias for the U.S. government. The unverified video would be the first sign of life of Kittleson since her abduction.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Iraqi Hezbollah releases footage of American journalist Shelly Kittelson in captivity, showing her “admitting” she gathered intelligence on Shia militias for the U.S. consul in Baghdad.
They say she will be freed and must leave Iraq immediately. <a href="https://t.co/M8nTZaFNRC">https://t.co/M8nTZaFNRC</a> <a href="https://t.co/bUiqbTiCCm">pic.twitter.com/bUiqbTiCCm</a>
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) <a href="https://twitter.com/Osint613/status/2041561782574084606?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Kittleson, a journalist specializing in the Middle East who has reported for the BBC, Foreign Relations, and POLITICO, was in Baghdad reporting on Iraqi politics for the outlet Al-Monitor at the time of her kidnapping.

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American Journalist Released By Iran-Backed Militia, Sets Exit Deadline

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An American journalist was kidnapped off the streets of Baghdad, Iraq, by armed men in an abduction likely carried out by an Iranian-backed militia — and Iraqi security forces scrambled in their unsuccessful attempt to intercept the kidnappers.
A group of armed men stopped Shelly Kittleson&#8217;s car in the middle of the street, pulled her out, and quickly fled the scene with her in tow. Iraqi security forces immediately pursued, but were unable to stop the kidnappers,
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
CCTV video shows the moment American journalist <a href="https://twitter.com/shellykittleson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@shellykittleson</a> was taken in Baghdad. <a href="https://t.co/JqJcdW7TOb">pic.twitter.com/JqJcdW7TOb</a>
— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) <a href="https://twitter.com/TreyYingst/status/2039047721001095275?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
CNN National Security Analyst and former Pentagon official Alex Plitsas <a href="https://x.com/alexplitsas/status/2039036851046990259">stated</a> via X that Kittleson was likely taken hostage by Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia with ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Kittleson, a journalist specializing in the Middle East who has reported for the BBC, Foreign Relations, and POLITICO, was in Baghdad reporting on Iraqi politics for the outlet Al-Monitor at the time of her kidnapping.
The Iraqi Ministry of Interior said in a statement that efforts are underway to track down the perpetrators and rescue Kittleson.
&#8220;Security forces immediately launched an operation to apprehend the perpetrators, acting on precise intelligence and through intensive field operations, tracking the kidnappers’ movements,&#8221; a translated statement from the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior <a href="https://moi.gov.iq/?article=20535">reads</a>. &#8220;The pursuit resulted in the interception of a vehicle belonging to the kidnappers, which overturned as they attempted to escape. Security forces were able to arrest one of the suspects and seize one of the vehicles used in the crime.&#8221;
Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson said in a <a href="https://x.com/ASDylanJohnson/status/2039068022451613858">statement</a> on X that the State Department was &#8220;aware of the reported kidnapping&#8221; and that Kittleson had been warned of the dangers of continuing to work in Iraq.
&#8220;The State Department previously fulfilled our duty to warn this individual of threats against them and we will continue to coordinate with the FBI to ensure their release as quickly as possible,&#8221; the statement reads. &#8220;An individual with ties to the Iranian-aligned militia group Kataib Hezbollah believed to be involved in the kidnapping has been taken into custody by Iraqi authorities.&#8221;
&#8220;Iraq remains at a Level 4 Travel Advisory and Americans are advised not to travel to Iraq for any reason and to leave Iraq now. The State Department strongly advise all Americans, including members of the press, to adhere to all travel advisories,&#8221; the statement concludes.

Baghdad

WATCH: Video Shows Moment American Female Journalist Is Kidnapped In Iraq

In a bombshell interview with Hoda Kotb Thursday on the <a href="https://www.today.com/news/savannah-guthrie-nancy-guthrie-moment-mom-missing-rcna265248">Today Show</a>, Savannah Guthrie took us through the nightmare she&#8217;s been living for the last 54 days since her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, was kidnapped from her bed in the middle of the night.
Savannah said her mother was abducted in her pajamas, with no shoes, leaving behind everything. After Savannah&#8217;s sister called 911 on February 1, the Today Show host said it didn&#8217;t take long for the siblings to know something was very wrong.
&#8220;My brother, you know, he spent his career in the military and worked in intelligence and is a fighter pilot and is brilliant,&#8221; Savannah said. &#8220;He saw very clearly right away what this was. Even on the phone when I called him, he knew. And he said I think she&#8217;s been kidnapped for ransom.&#8221;
It&#8217;s a theory the family has held on to throughout the ongoing investigation. Ransom notes flooded news outlets and other avenues following Nancy&#8217;s mysterious disappearance. Savannah and her siblings, Annie and Cameron, addressed two notes that specifically demanded payment in Bitcoin.
&#8220;I believe the two notes that we responded to, I tend to believe those are real,&#8221; Savannah said.
Savannah admits she knows it is a possibility because of her public prominence. She could be the reason her mother was targeted to make a quick buck, but it&#8217;s a thought she can barely say out loud. The family remains uncertain of a motive, seven weeks in.
&#8220;It&#8217;s too much to bear to think I brought this to her bedside, that it&#8217;s because of me,&#8221; Savannah told her former co-anchor. &#8220;If it is me &#8230; I&#8217;m so sorry.&#8221;
The family was the center of scrutiny early on in the investigation, with rumors swirling that the kidnapping could have been an inside job. Savannah finally addressed those rumors, describing how it affected her already grieving family.
&#8220;It piles pain upon pain. There are no words,&#8221; Savannah said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t understand, and I&#8217;ll never understand. No one took better care of my mom than my sister and brother-in-law. No one protected my mom more than my brother. We love her. She is our shining light, our matriarch, she&#8217;s all we have.&#8221;
The rumors started to quiet down after the FBI, with the help of Google, released <a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/phuBCMSiXuo?si=mquv4c06TNPkqhil">images</a> of an armed, masked man with a backpack on Nancy&#8217;s front steps. The images are chilling, but Savannah said she&#8217;s thankful the public can see who was at her mom&#8217;s door so the focus can be on finding out who it is.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Savannah Guthrie opened up to Hoda Kotb about her reaction to seeing footage of an armed and masked person outside of mom Nancy Guthrie’s home on the night she disappeared. <a href="https://t.co/CI7WhyJfw7">https://t.co/CI7WhyJfw7</a>
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TODAYshow/status/2037182857060257954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2026</a></blockquote>
&#8220;I mean, it&#8217;s just absolutely terrifying, it&#8217;s totally terrifying,&#8221; Savannah said of the images. &#8220;And I can&#8217;t imagine that&#8217;s who she saw standing over her bed. I can&#8217;t. That&#8217;s too much.&#8221;
The agony and desperation for answers were painted all over the news anchor&#8217;s face. While Savannah acknowledged the tireless work investigators are doing, she is again asking for answers.
&#8220;We cannot be at peace without knowing, and someone can do the right thing. It is never too late to do the right thing, and our hearts are focused on that.&#8221;
The second part of the two-part interview airs Friday on the Today Show.

Credit: Joe Raedle/Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images

Savannah Guthrie Reveals Theory She Can’t Shake In Mother’s Kidnapping Case

'I Think She's Been Kidnapped For Ransom': Savannah Guthrie Takes Us Inside Her Living Nightmare

nbc news

In the hours following Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapping, ransom notes were sent to multiple news outlets demanding $6 million in Bitcoin by 5 p.m. ET on Monday.
Guthrie, 84, the mother of “Today Show” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was taken from her home nine days ago. Since her disappearance, news outlets have received messages detailing cryptocurrency payment instructions.
Criminals are increasingly turning to Bitcoin and other digital assets in ransom and extortion cases for several reasons.
Personal information is not required to access a private cryptocurrency wallet; this is one reason criminals often prefer self-custody wallets for their Bitcoin, requiring only a digital wallet and a pseudonym. Once funds are transferred to the digital wallet, the transaction cannot be reversed, unlike credit card payments or wire transfers, which can sometimes be disputed or clawed back. There is also no central authority that can freeze a Bitcoin wallet or halt a transaction.
Chainalysis&#8217;s 2024 Crypto report <a href="https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/2026-crypto-crime-report-introduction/">stated</a>, &#8220;Human trafficking operations have increasingly leveraged cryptocurrency, while there has also been a particularly disturbing rise in physical coercion attacks, in which criminals use violence to force victims to transfer assets, often timing these assaults to coincide with cryptocurrency price peaks.&#8221; Chainalysis estimated that tens of billions of dollars in cryptocurrency were linked to illicit activity in 2024.
However, Bitcoin does not provide total anonymity; it operates on a public, immutable ledger, meaning every transaction is permanently recorded and visible.
The Daily Wire spoke to Lionsgate Networks CEO Bezalel Eithan Raviv, who leads a firm that specializes in crypto security and asset recovery.
“A lot of people believe there’s no way to trace or recover crypto. This is a myth,” Raviv said.
He told The Daily Wire that using only the Bitcoin address provided in the ransom messages, the funds could indeed be tracked. “We would send a single dollar and we will trace the location of where it hits and lands. We would give that intel to law enforcement without sending $6 million in crypto. You can probe that wallet with a very small transaction.”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/dwn-260204"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1039207" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal.jpg" alt="" width="2290" height="544" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal.jpg 2290w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-300x71.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-1024x243.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-768x182.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-1536x365.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-2048x487.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 2290px) 100vw, 2290px" /></a>
Tracing typically identifies wallet relationships and exchange touchpoints, not precise locations.
Raviv warned that such cases are likely to increase, as he believes criminals are often more sophisticated than law enforcement.
“Unfortunately, what we have experienced with this very unfortunate story will only scale,” he said. “Cybercriminals have the leverage because they do understand the tactics and the maneuvers that law enforcement will probably take years to catch up with.”
Still, Raviv emphasized that blockchain transparency remains a powerful investigative tool. “Blockchain is a language,” Raviv said. “And if you can speak it, you can do a lot with it.”
The second deadline for Nancy Guthrie has passed. The ransom reportedly increased from $4 million to $6 million on Monday.
On Monday, Savannah Guthrie posted a video on Instagram calling on the public to pray for her mother&#8217;s safe return and contact law enforcement &#8220;if there is anything at all that seems strange.&#8221;
&#8220;We are at an hour of desperation, and we need your help,&#8221; she added.
Tuesday marks day ten of the search for Nancy Guthrie.

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The Nancy Guthrie Case Shows How Cryptocurrency Changed Ransom

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In a gut-wrenching video posted by Savannah Guthrie, the &#8220;Today Show&#8221; host said her family received a message and they &#8220;will pay&#8221; ransom money to have their 84-year-old mother returned.
&#8220;We received your message and we understand,&#8221; Savannah Guthrie said in a video posted Saturday night. &#8220;We beg you now to return our mother to us, so we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace.&#8221;
&#8220;This is very valuable to us,&#8221; she added. &#8220;And we will pay.&#8221;
In the somber video, Savannah Guthrie is holding hands with her two siblings, Annie and Camron.
Nancy Guthrie was forcefully <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-search-continues-for-nancy-guthrie-as-deadline-for-ransom-note-passes?author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=11&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=LIVE+UPDATES%3A+Consequential+Deadline+Approaches+As+Day+6+Of+Nancy+Guthrie+Search+Continues" target="_blank" rel="noopener">taken from her home</a> in Catalina Hills outside of Tucson, Arizona, in the early morning hours of February 1, according to authorities.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
BREAKING
In a new video, Savannah Guthrie, joined by her sister and brother, speaks directly to the person or persons who abducted their mother, Nancy, and says she will pay the ransom to have her returned. <a href="https://t.co/DJMHYaLWdV">pic.twitter.com/DJMHYaLWdV</a>
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) <a href="https://twitter.com/yashar/status/2020281293439955387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
President Donald Trump on Friday night told the press that the feds would likely soon be able to provide “definitive” answers or a “solution” concerning the capture of Nancy.
“I’ll give you a little statement,” Trump said. “I think we’re doing very well, very well, meaning, we have some clues I think that are very strong, and I think we could have some answers coming up fairly soon.”
“I’m not talking about a search, I’m talking about a solution,” the president continued. “We have some things I think that will maybe come out reasonably soon from [Department of Justice] or FBI, or whoever that could be — that could be definitive.”
Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116015545880326010" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on February 4 that he spoke to Savannah Guthrie and let her know that he was “directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family’s, and Local Law Enforcement’s, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY.”
“We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely,” he added. “The prayers of our Nation are with her and her family. GOD BLESS AND PROTECT NANCY!”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/dwn-260204"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1039207" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal.jpg" alt="" width="2290" height="544" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal.jpg 2290w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-300x71.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-1024x243.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-768x182.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-1536x365.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-2048x487.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 2290px) 100vw, 2290px" /></a>
On Feb. 5, police <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nancy-guthries-blood-found-on-front-porch-investigators-say">confirmed</a> during a press conference that blood found on the front porch of Nancy Guthrie&#8217;s home was indeed hers.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VIbeKsZF6E">updated</a> the public on the investigation at a recent press conference. While law enforcement has neither identified a suspect nor person of interest, Nanos said that more samples of DNA in addition to the blood on the porch had been sent in for analysis.
The sheriff also said that his office, with help from other law enforcement, including the FBI, have been investigating dozens of tips in the search for Guthrie.
“Right now, we still believe Nancy is still out there,” said Nanos.
Law enforcement on Thursday released an estimated timetable of Guthrie’s disappearance and revealed that a home camera, one that attached to Guthrie&#8217;s front doorbell, was disconnected and removed. Investigators have still not located the missing camera.
Multiple ransom notes with deadlines have been sent following Guthrie&#8217;s disappearance, demanding millions of dollars in Bitcoin.
On Friday, Guthrie&#8217;s vehicle was towed from her home, according to <a href="https://www.kvoa.com/news/nancy-guthrie/investigators-remove-car-from-nancy-guthries-tucson-home/article_0bdb833a-5f1d-47e1-b22b-837087298b92.html">NBC News</a>. Authorities have not released information detailing why the car was towed.
Tim Pearce contributed to this report.

Guthrie Says Family Received Message, Will Pay Ransom For Mother Nancy

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Investigators in the missing-persons case of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie, confirmed that blood found on the front porch of Guthrie’s home belongs to her.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VIbeKsZF6E">updated</a> the public on the investigation on Thursday. While law enforcement has neither identified a suspect nor person of interest, Nanos said that more samples of DNA in addition to the blood on the porch had been sent in for analysis.
The sheriff also said that his office, with help from other law enforcement, including the FBI, have been investigating dozens of tips in the search for Guthrie.
“Right now, we still believe Nancy is still out there,” said Nanos.
Law enforcement on Thursday released an estimated timetable of Guthrie’s disappearance and revealed that a home camera, one that attached to Guthrie&#8217;s front doorbell, was disconnected and removed. Investigators have still not located the missing camera.
The timetable begins at approximately 5:32 p.m. on January 31 when Guthrie left her house to spend the evening with her daughter and son-in-law, who lived nearby. Guthrie&#8217;s son-in-law dropped her off at her home just before 10 p.m. when Guthrie’s home security devices registered her garage opening and closing.
At 1:47 a.m. on the morning of February 1, Guthrie’s doorbell camera is disconnected. Roughly 30 minutes later, movement is caught on one of Guthrie’s home cameras. Nanos noted that the movement could have been an animal or something else. There is no recording of what was captured because Guthrie did not subscribe to a service to hold such a recording for any length of time, according to Nanos.
At 2:28 a.m., Guthrie’s pacemaker app disconnects from her phone. It wasn’t until noon that concerned family members went to Guthrie’s house to check on her, discovered her missing, and called authorities.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/dwn-260204"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1039207" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal.jpg" alt="" width="2290" height="544" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal.jpg 2290w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-300x71.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-1024x243.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-768x182.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-1536x365.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-2048x487.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 2290px) 100vw, 2290px" /></a>
Nanos’ briefing was the first from law enforcement since Guthrie’s children <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/savannah-guthrie-and-siblings-demand-proof-of-life-in-video-plea-for-their-mother">released</a> a video on Wednesday pleading for proof that their mother is still alive. The siblings said that they are willing to talk about paying a ransom for their mother, but needed to know she is alive. The Guthrie family put out the video after several reports of ransom notes were published in the media.
“We too have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media,” said Savannah Guthrie. “As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us.”
The case has captured the nation&#8217;s attention, with even President Trump weighing in and speaking with Savannah Guthrie on Wednesday afternoon.
Shortly after the &#8220;Today Show&#8221; host released the video in which the Guthries plead for their mother&#8217;s return, Trump posted to <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116015545880326010 I spoke with Savannah Guthrie, and let her know that I am directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family’s, and Local Law Enforcement’s, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY. We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely. The prayers of our Nation are with her and her family. GOD BLESS AND PROTECT NANCY! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP">TruthSocial</a>.
&#8220;I spoke with Savannah Guthrie, and let her know that I am directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family’s, and Local Law Enforcement’s, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely. The prayers of our Nation are with her and her family. GOD BLESS AND PROTECT NANCY! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.&#8221;

Sign at the house of Nancy Guthrie

Nancy Guthrie’s Blood Found On Front Porch, Investigators Say

media

Law enforcement successfully rescued two young sisters reported missing over the weekend and arrested a 19-year-old man accused of grooming and abducting them from their Florida home after contacting the girls through the popular online game Roblox.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Hser Mu Lah Say from Omaha, Nebraska, saying he allegedly drove nearly 24 hours nonstop to pick up the 12- and 14-year-old girls from their home in Indiantown, Florida.
Georgia Highway Patrol located the vehicle several hours after the girls were reported missing and found all three individuals inside.
“This was a sobering case for us here at the county sheriff’s office, but we’re thankful with how it ended,” Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek <a href="https://people.com/2-young-girls-abducted-after-being-groomed-by-man-they-chatted-with-on-roblox-police-say-11898085">said</a>.
“They learned through their investigation that the same day, about 9 in the morning, these same two girls had gone to a local park there in Indiantown, had been found by a family member, brought back to their home [and] punished,” he added, noting that this included having their phones taken away. They later contacted the suspect using another device.
Authorities say Lah Say had been chatting with the girls for months on Snapchat and Roblox, and allegedly sent them gifts. 
“The communication initially started, we believe, and keep in mind we’re going through devices, in the summer of 2025, on a gaming app called Roblox. And from that gaming app, these girls were then moved from Roblox over to Snapchat,” Budensiek said. 
The sheriff noted how the family noticed “weird” things in the time leading up to the abduction, such as food being delivered to the house. Law enforcement now believes this was part of the grooming process. The family alerted officers about the existence of the suspect, who was said to have kept &#8220;a constant thread of communication&#8221; with the girls.
Lah Say was charged with two counts of kidnapping and two counts of interference with child custody. 
&#8220;We talk regularly about the importance of parents and family members being vigilant about grooming and social media platforms and the impact it has on kids,&#8221; Budensiek said, per <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/amp/GMA/News/siblings-rescued-after-alleged-kidnapping-19-year-met/story?id=129794514">ABC News</a>. “In this case, I think we prevented something disastrous.&#8221; 
&#8220;There is no application online that&#8217;s safe,&#8221; he added. &#8220;If you can communicate with somebody away from your house in the quiet of your own room, it can be a problem. So parents have to be vigilant.&#8221;

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