DNA from Glove Could Link Suspect in Nancy Guthrie Disappearance; Family Cleared, FBI Expands Search

The search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie entered its third week as investigators followed a potentially pivotal forensic lead and publicly clarified that the Guthrie family is no longer considered a suspect. Authorities said DNA recovered from a glove found near the Tucson home may match the glove worn by a masked person seen on surveillance the night Guthrie vanished on Feb. 1, 2026 (ET).

Forensic lead may yield a match

Federal investigators announced that DNA recovered from a glove — discovered roughly two miles from Nancy Guthrie’s residence — has produced the profile of an unknown male. The glove appears to match the pair seen on surveillance footage of a masked individual tampering with a doorbell camera in the early morning of Feb. 1, 2026 (ET). That DNA profile is undergoing quality-control testing at a private laboratory in Florida and is expected to be entered into the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) imminently, which could identify a match in the national database.

Authorities described the suspect captured on video as a male approximately 5'9" to 5'10" with an average build, wearing a mask and gloves and carrying a 25-liter hiking-style backpack. Law enforcement the investigation has produced no named suspects or persons in custody yet, but that the probe remains active and more law enforcement operations are anticipated in the coming days.

Investigators have received an influx of public tips; officials estimate between 40, 000 and 50, 000 leads have been submitted and routed to investigators. Hundreds of officers from multiple agencies continue to work on the case, and the FBI has increased its reward to $100, 000 for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s location or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved.

Family cleared; investigators outline methods used

Pima County law enforcement publicly stated that the Guthrie family — including all siblings and spouses — has been cleared as possible suspects. Officials emphasized the family has cooperated fully and described them as victims in the case.

Investigators said they relied on traditional and technical methods to clear family members: documented alibis, cell phone and location data, license-plate camera checks and other digital forensics that help establish movements and timelines. Officials also noted that while the family has been excluded, the department is not ruling out the possibility that more than one person could be involved; federal leadership has previously referenced "persons of interest, " a term that suggests investigators are keeping multiple lines of inquiry open.

Law enforcement also confirmed that a trail of blood outside Guthrie’s front door tested positive as her blood, reinforcing the assessment that she was taken from the home and likely harmed. Authorities said they have questioned a number of people as part of the probe but stressed that the investigation remains ongoing.

Public reaction and next steps in the search

Savannah Guthrie, who has publicly appealed for help in finding her mother, posted a message of hope as the investigation marked two weeks since Nancy Guthrie disappeared. Community vigils and continuing public interest have generated a high volume of tips for investigators to vet.

High-profile commentators and former prosecutors have weighed in on the case, underscoring how the discovery of usable DNA could change the pace of the investigation. If the profile that is entered into CODIS yields a hit, investigators could quickly develop new leads and potentially identify suspects tied to the profile.

For now, officials urged anyone with relevant information to contact law enforcement. They said the investigation is actively pursuing forensic and digital evidence, and that operational activity in the Tucson area may continue as agents follow up on new information and the processing of the DNA profile progresses.

Note: Some public statements and investigative updates referenced events and testing dates in February 2026 (ET).