Nancy Guthrie ‘wrench attack’ theory emerges - BERITAJA

The disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother mightiness beryllium connected to a convulsive cryptocurrency-related crime known arsenic a “wrench attack,” according to erstwhile FBI supplier Jennifer Coffindaffer.

The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie

Authorities judge Nancy Guthrie was taken against her will from her Tucson-area home. By: @savannahguthrie/Instagram

Nancy Guthrie, 84, vanished from her location adjacent Tucson, Ariz., during the early hours of February 1. Authorities person said they judge she was taken against her will, though nary fishy has been publically identified and nary arrests person been announced.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has said investigators judge they cognize the motive down the disappearance but person not disclosed further details.

Scheme to bargain millions

Wrench attacks impact physically threatening victims to summation entree to cryptocurrency accounts. By: @savannahguthrie/Instagram

Coffindaffer said the lawsuit shares similarities pinch a increasing criminal maneuver successful which victims are physically threatened aliases abducted to summation entree to cryptocurrency holdings. She antecedently linked Nancy’s disappearance to an alleged location penetration successful Scottsdale, Ariz., 1 time earlier that was reportedly tied to a strategy to bargain millions successful cryptocurrency.

“I person been speaking about a wrench attack that took spot virtually about 90 minutes northbound of Nancy’s house, the time earlier Nancy was attacked, since early March,” the erstwhile FBI supplier wrote connected X. “A wrench onslaught checks a batch of boxes successful position of Nancy’s case. I person been concerned that this is simply a apt anticipation for months.”

Targeted attacks

Crypto information firms study wrench attacks are rising globally. By: @savannahguthrie/Instagram

In different post, Coffindaffer said the targets of specified attacks are typically individuals pinch cryptocurrency wealthiness aliases group connected to personification who possesses integer assets.

According to crypto tracing patient TRM Labs, wrench attacks impact the usage of beingness unit aliases intimidation to compel victims to surrender entree to cryptocurrency accounts aliases backstage keys. The word comes from a hypothetical script successful which an attacker uses a wrench to unit personification to uncover their crypto credentials.

The attacks person accrued globally successful caller years.

Cryptocurrency

Recent high-profile cases see kidnappings and torture of crypto investors. By: @savannahguthrie/Instagram

Crypto information patient CertiK recorded 34 verified wrench attacks worldwide during the first 4 months of 2026, marking a 41 percent summation complete the aforesaid play past year. Estimated losses totaled about $101 million. The institution projected that 2026 could extremity pinch about 130 incidents and respective 100 cardinal dollars successful losses.

Several high-profile cases person drawn world attention. In 2025, 2 American cryptocurrency investors were arrested aft a man told constabulary he had been tortured for weeks successful an effort to get his Bitcoin password. In France, able crypto holders and their relatives person besides been targeted successful kidnapping plots.

One notable lawsuit progressive David Balland, co-founder of French crypto-wallet institution Ledger, and his wife, who were kidnapped from their home. Attackers allegedly trim disconnected 1 of David’s fingers while demanding an $11.2 cardinal ransom. Both were later rescued and respective suspects were arrested.