Nancy Guthrie’s missing-person case has taken a sharp turn as former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer links it to something much bigger with a clear financial motive.

According to Coffindaffer, the 84-year-old mother of the Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie’s missing case may be connected to a violent crypto-related crime tactic called a “wrench attack.”

Nancy, who has been missing since Feb. 1, 2026, has left investigators wondering what actually happened to her. Coffindaffer previously stated that she believes Nancy was taken from her home against her will.

She argued that another case may also be linked to Nancy’s disappearance. That case occurred a day before, about 90 minutes north of her home. According to NW Noticals, she was referring to a Scottsdale home invasion that was reported a day before Nancy’s disappearance.

The home invasion is tied to an alleged cryptocurrency theft plot that involved millions of dollars. Coffindaffer believes that Nancy has also been missing because of a wrench attack. She wrote on X:

“I have been speaking about a wrench attack that took place literally about 90 minutes North of Nancy’s house the day before Nancy was attacked since early March.

A wrench attack checks a lot of boxes in terms of Nancy’s case. I have been concerned that this is a likely possibility for months.”

In another post, she explained that the usual targets of wrench attacks are either people with cryptocurrency wealth or people related to people with such wealth.

Wrench attacks, according to TRM Labs, “refers to a situation where physical force or intimidation is used to compel a victim to surrender access to their cryptocurrency holdings.”

The phrase originated from a long-running internet joke. The joke suggested that even the strongest of digital encryption can be cracked if someone is threatened with a wrench to reveal their password.

Unlike other digital scams and attacks, this attack directly exploits the victim instead of relying on software vulnerabilities. Crimes, including kidnappings, home invasions, armed robberies and ransom demands, are all linked to it.

A report released by crypto security company CertiK in May 2026 found that 34 verified wrench attacks were recorded globally between January and April 2026. That is a 41 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

While it is not yet confirmed if Nancy’s disappearance is also a wrench attack, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed that the authorities believe they know the motive behind her disappearance.

According to investigators, drops of blood were found on her front porch. Surveillance footage released by the FBI showed a masked man outside the property on the night she vanished. The investigators have not yet publicly identified a suspect or announced any arrests.

In mid-May 2026, bones found near her home sparked intrigue of a potential twist in the case. However, investigators soon determined that the bones didn’t belong to her.