Unexpected DNA at Home of Missing Nancy Guthrie May Reshape Search

Investigators have uncovered a piece of evidence that could reshape the search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today Show co-host Savannah Guthrie, who vanished from her Tucson, Arizona, home nearly two weeks ago. According to authorities, DNA collected from the property does not belong to Guthrie or anyone in her immediate circle. 'DNA other than Nancy Guthrie's and those in close contact to her has been collected from the property,' the sheriff's department confirmed, adding that the origin of the sample remains under investigation. The location of the discovery was not disclosed, and officials stressed that the evidence is being sent to the same out-of-state forensic lab used since the start of the inquiry. The decision, officials said, was made in consultation with FBI leadership, but the details of that collaboration remain shrouded in secrecy.

The investigation, now in its 12th day, has taken an unexpected turn as authorities work to analyze the DNA and cross-reference it with existing profiles. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told ABC News that the team will 'go through and try to eliminate people' using the genetic data from Guthrie's family and household. But the process has not been without controversy. Earlier this week, Nanos denied to Fox News that a glove had been found on the property, a claim that contradicted earlier reports. Reuters had previously alleged that Nanos blocked the FBI from examining a glove and DNA discovered at the scene, opting instead to send the evidence to a private lab in Florida rather than the FBI's Quantico facility in Virginia. The sheriff has dismissed these claims, insisting that the decision to send all evidence to the same lab was made to ensure consistency and that the FBI was never excluded from the process.

The gloves found during the search—reported to be scattered up to 10 miles from Guthrie's home—have become a focal point of the investigation. Nanos claimed during a Thursday night press briefing that 'quite a number' of gloves were recovered, though he admitted their full significance remains unknown. The sheriff's assertion that the FBI wanted to examine only a subset of the evidence—those closest to the crime scene—has been met with skepticism. 'Why limit it?' Nanos asked, justifying the decision to send all items to the lab where existing DNA profiles are stored. The debate over who controls the evidence has raised questions about the speed and transparency of the investigation, especially after sources close to the sheriff's department told the Daily Mail that staffing shortages delayed a critical search-and-rescue aircraft during the early hours of the disappearance.

The FBI has provided new details about the suspect, describing him as a 5-foot-9- to 5-foot-10-inch male with an average build. The agency also released photos of a black 'Ozark Trail Hiker Pack' backpack, the same model the suspect was wearing when captured on the home's security camera. The reward for information has been increased to $100,000, but the case remains frustratingly opaque. Nanos has faced criticism for conflicting statements, including an initial claim that Guthrie was 'harmed at the home' and taken from her bed, which he later retracted. When asked about suspects or motives, he admitted, 'Your guess work is as good as mine,' a remark that left the public and media scrambling for clarity.

The tension between the sheriff's office and the FBI has only deepened the sense of uncertainty. While Nanos insists he is cooperating fully, the private lab in Florida has drawn scrutiny, with some questioning whether it could delay results. Meanwhile, Savannah Guthrie has reportedly distanced herself from the sheriff's office, telling him via text that she has her own team and does not need his involvement. The investigation continues, with Nanos vowing to return to the home to analyze the security footage frame by frame. For now, the DNA sample—a piece of the puzzle that does not belong to anyone 'close' to Nancy Guthrie—remains a tantalizing, but incomplete, clue in a case that has gripped the nation.