The missing case of Nancy Guthrie, 84, who vanished from her Tucson, Arizona home, might be connected to a cryptocurrency-related crime known as a ‘wrench attack’. This hypothesis comes from former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer. Guthrie went missing on February 1, and it is believed she was taken forcibly. However, authorities have neither identified a suspect nor made any arrests. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos suggested that the motive is known but hasn’t been disclosed.
Potential Link to Scottsdale Home Invasion
Coffindaffer linked Guthrie’s case to a home invasion in Scottsdale, Arizona, occurring a day before her disappearance. The invasion reportedly aimed to steal millions in cryptocurrency. She mentioned, ‘A wrench attack checks a lot of boxes in terms of Nancy’s case.’
Understanding ‘Wrench Attacks’
‘Wrench attacks’ describe scenarios where victims are threatened to disclose access to their cryptocurrency. Named for an imagined situation where an attacker uses a wrench to compel someone to reveal their crypto keys, these incidents have increased globally. TRM Labs highlights this trend, recording 34 incidents in early 2026, marking a 41% rise from the previous year. Losses in this period reached about $101 million. Projections suggest as many as 130 incidents could occur by year’s end.
Notable cases include American investors facing charges for kidnapping to obtain Bitcoin passwords, and in France, kidnappings targeting wealthy crypto holders, including a violent ransom plot involving David Balland, co-founder of Ledger.
Reasons Behind the Rise of Wrench Attacks
TRM Labs identifies several reasons for the increase in wrench attacks. Attackers often find these crimes appealing because they believe transactions remain challenging to trace. Public displays of cryptocurrency wealth also make individuals targets, while it’s easier to gather personal information online, aiding attackers in identifying potential victims.
The Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie
Nancy Guthrie last appeared at her Tucson home on January 31, with her absence reported the next day. Blood found on her porch suggests abduction. The case initiated a multiagency search involving the FBI, which released surveillance footage of a masked individual suspected in the kidnapping. No progress on identifying this suspect has been made public.
What Lies Ahead
The investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance continues. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact authorities at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), 520-351-4900, or 88-CRIME, or visit tips.fbi.gov.
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