Home / Crime and Justice / DNA Delay Stalls Nancy Guthrie Missing Person Case
DNA Delay Stalls Nancy Guthrie Missing Person Case
23 Feb
Summary
- Mixed DNA samples found in Nancy Guthrie's home are delayed by lab processing.
- A glove found near her home did not match CODIS database entries.
- Investigators are now using genetic genealogy to aid the search.
The search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, missing for over 22 days, is experiencing a painstaking phase as investigators grapple with evidence processing delays. Complications at a private laboratory handling mixed DNA samples found in her Catalina Foothills home have significantly slowed the investigation, with authorities believing this evidence could be critical.
A separate glove discovered approximately two miles from Guthrie's residence, visually similar to one worn by a suspect in doorbell footage, provided no matches when run through the FBI's CODIS database. This lack of progress has led investigators to employ advanced methods like genetic genealogy, a technique previously used to solve high-profile cold cases.
Law enforcement continues to be inundated with tips, receiving an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 leads since Guthrie was reported missing on February 1, 2026. However, a large portion of these are deemed non-actionable, prompting officials to urge the public to submit only credible information to avoid overwhelming the 911 system.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has stated that the timeline for locating Guthrie is unpredictable, potentially taking "hours, weeks, months, or years." The FBI is assisting local authorities and has offered a reward of USD 202,500 for information leading to an arrest. Nancy Guthrie is the mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.
