Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping for Ransom: Can Bitcoin Be Traced? What we know about the $6 million need

It is worth noting that the ransom deadline expires at 5pm on Monday. While many viewed the family’s request for ransom payment as an act of desperation, experts say there was, in fact, a well-thought-out strategy behind it.

Recently, a criminal defense attorney wrote on Fox News that transferring Bitcoin to accounts associated with ransom demands could provide investigators with key clues in finding the suspects.

“One interesting thing is that these wallets have a number, like an account number, and they can retain that information and they can monitor the account if it has been used for any previous illegal activity,” he said.

Also read: Nancy Guthrie case: Is son-in-law Tommaso Cioni the prime suspect? what we know

Ritter believes that if a transfer was made, the person behind the account would at some point convert it into real currency for use, and that moment could lead to the FBI finding them.

As of 2:40 p.m. ET, the account had a zero balance and no transaction history, and the account was available for public viewing, the outlet reported.