DNA Evidence Emerges in Nancy Guthrie Disappearance
TUCSON, Ariz. – Investigators have recovered DNA from a glove found near the home of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing since January 31st, and preliminary results suggest a link to the suspect seen in surveillance footage, authorities said Sunday. The glove was discovered approximately two miles from Guthrie’s Tucson residence, in a field alongside a road.
The FBI confirmed the development, stating the DNA profile recovered is distinct from gloves discarded by search teams and appears to match those worn by the individual captured on Guthrie’s doorbell camera. Approximately sixteen gloves were collected in the vicinity of the home, but most were identified as belonging to volunteers involved in the search effort.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told ABC News on Friday that DNA had been retrieved from multiple gloves. The recovered glove was sent to a private lab in Florida on Thursday evening and arrived Friday, according to the FBI. Preliminary results were received Saturday, and the agency is now awaiting “quality control and official confirmation” before entering the “unknown male profile” into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), the FBI’s national database.
The process of entering the profile into CODIS is expected to take approximately 24 hours from the time the FBI receives the confirmed DNA data.
Security camera footage released earlier this week shows a masked individual approaching Guthrie’s front door and attempting to obscure the camera with a gloved hand and brush. The FBI has described the suspect as a man of average build, approximately 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-10 in height.
Investigators have also identified the backpack worn by the suspect as a 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department shared images of “an armed individual” appearing to tamper with the camera at Guthrie’s home on the morning of her disappearance.
Authorities believe Guthrie was taken against her will. Her blood was found on the front porch of her home. Ransom notes were reportedly sent to news outlets, though two deadlines for payment have passed without resolution.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. The case has garnered national attention, as Guthrie is the mother of Savannah Guthrie, co-host of NBC’s “Today” show.
