Business

Retired FBI Agent Says “Wrench by Proxy” Theory Could Make Nancy Guthrie Case Especially Hard to Solve

Published

1 month ago

20 June 2026

A retired FBI agent is raising new questions about the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, explaining why certain details could make the case especially difficult for law enforcement to solve if the abduction was tied to a cryptocurrency-motivated scheme rather than a more conventional crime.

Coffindaffer’s Latest Analysis

Jennifer Coffindaffer took to X to share her latest thoughts on the case, outlining several elements she believes would point to a sophisticated and deliberately calculated operation if her theory proves accurate. Coffindaffer outlined several elements that she believes would point to a complex operation, writing, “This attack was sophisticated enough to: Stump the FBI and LE for 4 months. Send ransom messages via media website in boxes that can’t be traced. Set up a Crypto Bitcoin account whose wallet holder can’t be identified. Hire a mope(s) to do the job who will stay silent.”

Questioning How Guthrie Was Targeted

Coffindaffer also raised pointed questions about how Guthrie, as an individual, would have come to be selected for this type of crime in the first place. “How was Nancy targeted if it was a Wrench by Proxy?” she wondered. “It just has to be someone familiar with [Tucson] and one of their most famous celebrities-Savannah. Someone they knew would pay, until mope messed up like mopes do.”

That line of reasoning suggests Coffindaffer believes whoever orchestrated the crime, if her theory holds, would have needed specific local knowledge of the Tucson area combined with an awareness of Savannah Guthrie’s public profile and presumed financial means — a combination that narrows, at least theoretically, the pool of people who might have had both the motive and the information necessary to plan such an operation.

A Hope for Resolution, Tempered by Realism

Despite the complexity she described, Coffindaffer expressed continued hope that the case will ultimately be solved, while acknowledging the specific theory she has raised would complicate that path considerably. “I just hope Nancy will be found and those responsible will face justice. If it is a Wrench by Proxy, the case will be much tougher to solve,” Coffindaffer added.

What a “Wrench Attack” Actually Means

Coffindaffer has previously discussed the possibility that Guthrie’s disappearance could involve a “wrench attack,” which involves “the use of physical force or intimidation to gain access to a victim’s cryptocurrency holdings,” according to blockchain analytics firm TRM Labs. The term has become an established piece of vocabulary within the cryptocurrency security industry, used to describe crimes in which physical coercion — rather than technical hacking — is used to force a victim or their associates to hand over digital currency holdings.

The “by proxy” variation of the theory that Coffindaffer has raised specifically would involve targeting a victim’s family member or associate as leverage, rather than the cryptocurrency holder directly — a scenario that would apply to Guthrie’s case given that any presumed digital asset wealth would more plausibly be tied to her daughter, Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, rather than to Nancy Guthrie herself.

Law Enforcement’s Response to the Theory

Although investigators have not said whether they believe Guthrie’s disappearance involved a “wrench attack,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said that he had “flagged it to the investigation team,” according to Fox News Digital’s Mike Ruiz. That acknowledgment from the sheriff represents one of the more direct, if still measured, responses from law enforcement to the cryptocurrency-related theory that has continued circulating in connection with the case.

The sheriff’s confirmation that the theory has at least been formally noted by investigators does not constitute an endorsement of the theory itself, nor does it indicate that detectives have shifted the overall direction of the investigation toward a cryptocurrency-focused motive. It does, however, suggest that the possibility has not been dismissed outright by the team leading the inquiry.

The Case So Far

Guthrie, 84, has been missing since Sunday, February 1. Investigators believe that she was abducted from her Arizona home in the middle of the night. Despite receiving thousands of tips — and obtaining video footage of a possible suspect on Guthrie’s front stoop — authorities have not publicly named a person of interest in the case.

That combination of an active, evidence-rich investigation that has nonetheless failed to produce a named suspect after more than four and a half months has fueled much of the ongoing public speculation surrounding the case, including the various theories Coffindaffer and other retired law enforcement professionals have continued to put forward in the absence of an official resolution.

A Pattern of Public Commentary From Retired Investigators

Coffindaffer’s latest remarks continue a broader pattern that has developed throughout the case, with multiple former law enforcement officials offering their own analysis and, at times, pointed criticism of how the investigation has been handled and communicated to the public. That ongoing public discourse reflects both the intense national interest in the case, given Savannah Guthrie’s profile as a national television anchor, and a degree of frustration among some retired investigators over what they perceive as a lack of transparency from the agencies leading the inquiry.

With no official suspect named and the case now stretching well past the four-month mark, the path forward remains uncertain. If Coffindaffer’s “wrench by proxy” theory does reflect the underlying motive behind Guthrie’s disappearance, her own assessment suggests investigators may be facing one of the more challenging categories of crime to solve, given the deliberate use of untraceable communication methods, anonymous cryptocurrency wallets, and intermediaries hired specifically to carry out the abduction while insulating those who ordered it from direct exposure.

Whether law enforcement ultimately confirms or rules out that theory, Coffindaffer’s continued public engagement with the case underscores how much remains unresolved — and how significantly the eventual explanation for Guthrie’s disappearance could shape both the difficulty of bringing those responsible to justice and the public’s understanding of what happened to her on the night she vanished from her Tucson home.

Business

Dr Lal PathLabs shares soar 8% after Q1 earnings beat estimates. What Nomura, Nuvama, other brokerages are saying?

Published

9 minutes ago

27 July 2026

NewsAdmin

Dr Lal PathLabs shares soar 8% after Q1 earnings beat estimates. What Nomura, Nuvama, other brokerages are saying?

Shares of Dr Lal PathLabs jumped nearly 8% on Monday to hit a new 52-week high after the diagnostics firm reported better-than-expected earnings for the first quarter of FY27, with multiple brokerages raising target prices.

Dr Lal PathLabs shares jumped to a fresh 52-week high of Rs 1,895 apiece on Monday, rising more than 12% in just two sessions. The stock is on track to record its sharpest single-day surge since early May this year.

The company on Friday reported a 28% year-on-year (YoY) increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 169.5 crore for the April-June quarter of FY27, from Rs 132.4 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year. The firm’s revenue from operations, meanwhile, rose over 19% YoY to Rs 797.7 crore during the quarter under review.

Along with the Q1 results, Dr Lal PathLabs announced an interim dividend of Rs 5 per equity share for the ongoing financial year 2027, with July 30 fixed as the record date to determine the eligibility of shareholders to receive the payout.

Also read |Dr Lal PathLabs posts higher first-quarter profit on healthy demand for tests

Nomura on Dr Lal PathLabs share price

Nomura maintained its ‘Buy’ call on the shares of Dr Lal PathLabs but increased its target price to Rs 2,085 apiece from Rs 1,860 apiece. The latest target price implies an upside potential of 18.5% from the stock’s previous closing price of Rs 1,759.20 apiece.

The international brokerage said that the company’s Q1 earnings came ahead of its estimates. The beat was driven primarily by higher-than-expected realisations, aided by price hikes in the CGHS and ECHS schemes, it said, noting that management indicated that the benefit from the CGHS and ECHS price hikes should continue over the next 2–3 quarters.
For FY27, the company’s management has raised its revenue guidance to mid-teens from early-teens, implying an acceleration in growth on the back of stronger realisation. On margins, management has adopted a more conservative stance, maintaining EBITDA margin guidance at 27–28% as it intends to reinvest in capacity building while prioritising growth, Nomura said. “We, however, model FY27 revenue growth of 16.6% and an EBITDA margin of 28.9%. Beyond network expansion, a target of 12–15 lab additions in FY27, the company is investing in high-end tests, radiology and international market opportunities, with inorganic growth also on the table,” it further said.Nomura revised its FY27 estimates to reflect the strong Q1 results, factoring in higher revenue growth and lower EBITDA margins. Consequently, it raised its FY27F–29 earnings estimates by nearly 6%. “We believe Dr Lal PathLabs’ valuation is underpinned by strong volume growth and a robust balance sheet that supports its acquisition ambitions. We expect Dr Lal PathLabs to trade at least at the upper end of its pre-COVID range of 40–45x one-year-forward EPS. A higher market valuation, versus pre-COVID, stronger earnings growth, 18% EPS CAGR over FY26–29F versus 14% over FY16–19, and a higher dividend payout justify this valuation, in our view,” the international brokerage said.

Nuvama on Dr Lal PathLabs share price

Nuvama also noted that Dr Lal PathLabs beat earnings estimates. It said the company remains on a robust growth path owing to network expansion, 12–15 labs and 2–4 radiology centres in FY27, CGHS and ECHS price hike-led growth, sustained traction in the Delhi NCR market, double-digit growth, and a strong Suburban turnaround, along with a robust balance sheet which could unlock inorganic optionality.

The brokerage raised its earnings estimates for FY27 and FY28. It maintained its ‘Buy’ rating on the stock while increasing its target price to Rs 2,140 apiece. This implies an upside potential of nearly 22%.

JM Financial on Dr Lal PathLabs share price

NewsAdmin

U.S. Equities: What's Hiding Beneath The Market's Headline Returns?

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Business

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Published

52 minutes ago

27 July 2026

NewsAdmin

Charter Communications: Keep Adding On The Way Down

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AvePoint: Stock Set For Gains On Strong Growth And Reasonable Valuation (NASDAQ:AVPT)

Published

60 minutes ago

27 July 2026

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AvePoint: Stock Set For Gains On Strong Growth And Reasonable Valuation (NASDAQ:AVPT)

David focuses on growth & momentum stocks that are reasonably priced and likely to outperform the market over the long-term. He is a long term investor of quality stocks and uses options for strategy. David told investors to buy in March 2009 at the bottom of the financial crisis. The S&P 500 increased 367% and the Nasdaq increased 685% from 2009 through 2019. He wants to help make people money by investing in high-quality growth stocks.

The article is for informational purposes only (not a solicitation or recommendation to buy or sell stocks). David is not a registered investment adviser. Investors should do their own research or consult a financial adviser to determine what investments are appropriate for their individual situation. This article expresses my opinions, and I cannot guarantee that the information/results will be accurate. Investing in stocks involves risk and could result in losses.

Business

Opinion: The protein of ageing gracefully

Published

1 hour ago

27 July 2026

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Opinion: The protein of ageing gracefully

OPINION: The world’s ageing population offers a unique opportunity for producers when it comes to meeting consumer needs.

Business

Tesla: The Real Problem Is A Rapidly Deteriorating EV Business (NASDAQ:TSLA)

Published

1 hour ago

27 July 2026

NewsAdmin

Tesla: The Real Problem Is A Rapidly Deteriorating EV Business (NASDAQ:TSLA)

I have more than 35 years of experience in the investment field, having worked as a sell &amp buy side analyst and portfolio manager for debt and equity funds. I am currently managing a high-yield Latam bond fund.My goal, as a Seeking Alpha contributor, is to provide a fundamental view and analysis of companies and funds in a streamlined version of institutional research. The operating and financial forecast, whether my own or based on consensus, drives the valuation and ultimate rating. I like numbers (financial statements) and use words to explain their meaning and potential consequences.For the most part, my selection choices reflect what I believe can offer long-term potential, and I frequently take positions in many ideas for my personal account.