The search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, continues to intensify as it nears the two-week mark. Authorities are analyzing new evidence, including DNA recovered from gloves and other items found near her Tucson, Arizona home.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos shared updates with ABC News and CNN, stating that the DNA collected does not match Nancy Guthrie or anyone in close contact with her. Investigators are working to identify the source of the DNA, comparing it to samples from family members and individuals with access to the property.
Several gloves have been located within a 10-mile radius of Nancy Guthrie’s residence, according to Sheriff Nanos. Reports that a glove was found inside the home or on the property itself are inaccurate, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department clarified.
Law enforcement is also meticulously examining photos and videos released earlier this week of a potential suspect. The FBI described the individual as a male between 5’9” and 5’10” tall with an average build, wearing a black, 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack. Investigators are planning to take additional measurements at the front doorway based on the suspect’s height, hoping to glean further details from the footage.
“It is really about just taking that video and frame-by-frame and trying to get as much out as One can,” Nanos told ABC News. He also revealed to CNN that authorities received nearly 5,000 calls in the hours following the release of the doorbell camera images.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Nanos expressed optimism about finding Nancy Guthrie. “I believe we are working as hard as we can to do that as fast as we can,” he said to CNN. “We’re not giving up. If Nancy’s out there, we’re going to find her.”
The FBI has doubled the reward to $100,000 for any information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s location and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance. The agency noted that the backpack seen in the video is sold exclusively at Walmart, according to NBC News.
While a person was briefly detained for questioning earlier this week and subsequently released, Nanos reiterated to CNN that “nobody’s fully cleared” as a possible suspect. The investigation remains active, and ongoing.
Adding another layer to the case, President Trump commented on the search Friday, telling reporters he believed “progress has been made,” according to multiple news outlets. When asked about potential cartel involvement, Trump stated, “You can’t say that yet. It’s a little bit early. But it’s — somebody either knew what they were doing very well, or they were rank amateurs. Either way, it’s not a good situation.”
TMZ reported Friday that they received a third email from someone claiming to have knowledge of Nancy Guthrie’s alleged kidnapper. The authenticity of these emails has not been confirmed.
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on February 1st after failing to appear at a friend’s house for a virtual church service with her daughter, Savannah. Local authorities quickly determined they believed she had been abducted. In the days since, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have publicly pleaded for their mother’s safe return, and reportedly indicated they were willing to pay a ransom after receiving communication from a potential kidnapper.
