Tucson, Arizona – The investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of Savannah Guthrie, co-host of NBC’s “Today” show, has entered its third week, with authorities reporting a potential breakthrough in the case. DNA recovered from a glove found approximately three kilometres from the Guthrie home appears to match that of a masked individual captured on surveillance footage at the property the night of .
The FBI announced the preliminary DNA match on , stating that official confirmation is pending. The glove was discovered in a field adjacent to a road, according to officials. This development comes as law enforcement continues to gather evidence, including surveillance video released earlier this month.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing on , after she was last seen at her home in Tucson. Authorities discovered blood on the front porch of the residence, raising concerns about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Purported ransom notes were sent to news outlets, but two deadlines for payment have passed without incident.
Surveillance footage released by the FBI shows a masked person wearing a backpack, long pants, a jacket, and gloves tampering with a security camera at the Guthrie home. The individual is described as a man approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall with a medium build. The person was carrying a 25-litre Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.
On evening, law enforcement sealed off a road roughly three kilometres from the Guthrie residence as part of the ongoing investigation. A Range Rover SUV was towed from a nearby restaurant parking lot and taken into custody, though authorities have stated no arrests were made in connection with the vehicle.
Earlier in the week, on , sheriff’s deputies briefly detained an individual for questioning during a traffic stop south of Tucson. The person was subsequently released, and authorities have not disclosed the reason for the initial stop.
Simultaneously, deputies and FBI agents conducted a court-authorised search in Rio Rico, a town located approximately an hour’s drive south of Tucson. Details of the search remain limited.
Authorities have expressed concern for Nancy Guthrie’s health, noting that she requires daily medication. According to dispatch audio, she has a pacemaker and a history of high blood pressure and heart issues. Investigators previously recovered DNA from the Guthrie property that did not belong to Guthrie or her immediate contacts, and efforts to identify the source of that DNA are ongoing.
The FBI has also reported collecting approximately sixteen gloves in the vicinity of the Guthrie home, the majority of which were discarded search gloves used by investigators. The discovery of the glove with potentially matching DNA represents the most significant development to date in the case.
The investigation is unfolding against a backdrop of rising crime concerns in Tucson. While Pima County, where Tucson is located, has seen a decline in overall crime rates, the city itself has experienced a surge in criminal activity, including widespread drug use and encampments. This has led to increased scrutiny of law enforcement staffing and resources, as well as calls for more robust prosecution of offenders.
The case has drawn national attention, with the FBI assigning several hundred detectives and agents to the investigation. The search area continues to expand as authorities pursue all available leads in their efforts to locate Nancy Guthrie and determine the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
