Nancy Guthrie Update Today: FBI Confirms DNA on Glove Linked to Masked Suspect as Case Enters Third Week

Investigators searching for Nancy Guthrie say a key piece of evidence recovered near her home contains DNA and appears to match gloves worn by the masked person seen on security footage around the time she vanished. The confirmation, delivered late Sunday and carrying into Monday, February 16, 2026, Eastern Time, marks one of the most concrete forensic developments since the 84-year-old Arizona woman was reported missing in early February.

Guthrie has not been located, and no arrests have been announced. Authorities continue to treat the case as a criminal investigation.

What happened: the latest Nancy Guthrie update today

The FBI has confirmed that DNA was recovered from a glove found near Guthrie’s residence. Investigators say the glove visually resembles the gloves worn by a masked individual captured on doorbell-camera video who appeared to be tampering with the camera near the time of the disappearance.

Officials have emphasized that the DNA work is still moving through verification steps before it can be compared against national law-enforcement databases. In practical terms, that means investigators now have a promising biological sample, but not yet a named match.

The glove is part of a larger evidence sweep: investigators collected multiple gloves from the surrounding area, then worked to determine which items were likely unrelated and which might be tied to the suspect. The current focus is on the glove that both contains a distinct DNA profile and matches what the masked person appeared to be wearing.

The timeline: what authorities say about when she disappeared

Investigators believe the crucial window centers on the overnight period tied to Friday, January 31, 2026, into the early hours that followed. Guthrie was last known to be at her home that night and was reported missing the next day.

Authorities have previously said there were signs of violence at the scene, including blood evidence consistent with Guthrie. They have repeatedly stated there is no official confirmation of whether she is alive or deceased, underscoring that the investigation remains active and time-sensitive.

Behind the headline: why the glove DNA changes the case

A missing-person search can sprawl quickly. A usable DNA profile narrows it.

This development gives investigators a potential bridge from “unknown suspect” to “identifiable person,” which is one of the hardest transitions in abduction cases. If the DNA profile is strong enough for database comparison or genealogical-style investigative leads, it could produce a shortlist of people to interview, surveil, or seek warrants for.

It also creates pressure in two directions at once:

• Pressure on investigators to move quickly while the trail is still warm and evidence is freshest.

• Pressure on any potential suspect, who may change routines once they realize investigators have tangible forensic material.

At the same time, DNA is not a magic answer. A profile can be incomplete, contaminated, or belong to someone whose presence is incidental rather than criminal. That is why officials are stressing confirmation steps and careful comparison.

What investigators think may have happened: burglary scenario vs. planned abduction

In recent days, investigators and outside experts have increasingly framed the incident as possibly beginning as a burglary attempt that escalated, rather than a meticulously planned kidnapping. That distinction matters because it changes how police look for motive and for a suspect:

• A targeted abduction often points toward prior knowledge of the victim, surveillance, or a specific demand.

• A botched burglary can point toward opportunistic offenders, impulsive decisions, and rapid disposal of evidence.

Both paths remain possible. Authorities have not publicly locked into a single motive.

Stakeholders and incentives: who has leverage now

• Law enforcement: Needs a clean chain of evidence that can survive court scrutiny, not just generate leads. The glove DNA raises the stakes for tight handling and careful public messaging.

• The family: Has an incentive to keep attention high while avoiding rumors that can misdirect tips or endanger the investigation.

• The public: Can provide decisive information, but only if the request is specific enough to jog memory without creating false sightings.

Reward money remains in play, and investigators continue to encourage tips that include concrete details like vehicles, unusual late-night activity, suspicious items discarded in fields or washes, or people who abruptly changed behavior around the end of January.

What we still don’t know

Several critical pieces remain missing or unconfirmed publicly:

• Whether the glove DNA will match anyone in law-enforcement databases.

• Whether the masked figure on video can be linked to a specific route, vehicle, or additional camera angles.

• Whether any communications connected to the case are credible, hoaxes, or unrelated.

• Where Guthrie may have been taken, and whether the abduction stayed local or moved quickly out of the area.

What happens next: likely near-term steps and triggers to watch

1. DNA confirmation and database comparison
   Trigger: quality-control clearance on the glove sample.
   Outcome: a match, a partial match, or a dead end that still helps by ruling people out.

2. Search-warrant and interview activity
   Trigger: forensic results or credible tips pointing to a person, property, or vehicle.
   Outcome: targeted searches and deeper digital and financial analysis.

3. Expanded video reconstruction
   Trigger: additional camera sources identified near the neighborhood and major roads.
   Outcome: a clearer movement timeline before and after the disappearance.

4. Public safety messaging
   Trigger: evidence indicating a broader threat pattern.
   Outcome: more specific warnings and requests for surveillance footage or witness accounts.

Why it matters

This case has moved from unsettling video imagery and scattered evidence into a more defined forensic phase. A glove with DNA that appears tied to the masked person is the kind of development that can unlock a case quickly, but only if the science holds up and produces a usable lead. For now, the investigation is at a hinge point: either the DNA turns into a name, or it becomes one more piece that must be matched with the right tip, the right video angle, or the right break in the timeline.