Home / Crime and Justice / DNA Genealogy Solves Missing Mom Case?
DNA Genealogy Solves Missing Mom Case?
19 Feb
Summary
- Investigators may use DNA genealogy to find missing mother Nancy Guthrie.
- DNA databases can connect evidence to relatives, aiding suspect identification.
- Similar DNA genealogy methods solved past high-profile California and Idaho cases.
Investigators in Pima County, Arizona, are considering utilizing DNA genealogy databases to aid in the disappearance investigation of Nancy Guthrie. Guthrie, the mother of 'Today' co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been missing from her Tucson-area home since February 1, 2026. This approach involves searching genealogical databases for DNA matches, a tactic previously employed in solving notorious cases.
The strategy could prove effective if DNA evidence found is linked to someone in a genealogical database, even a distant relative, potentially leading investigators to a suspect. While national criminal justice databases like CODIS have not provided matches, the sheriff's department is actively exploring other genetic genealogy options. Biological evidence collected from Guthrie's home is currently undergoing lab analysis.
This method has demonstrated success in other high-profile investigations. In California, DNA genealogy helped identify Joseph DeAngelo Jr. as the Golden State Killer, leading to his guilty plea for numerous murders and rapes. Similarly, in Idaho, DNA analysis and genealogical research were crucial in identifying Bryan Kohberger in the killings of four University of Idaho students, resulting in a guilty plea and life sentence.
