Tmz: Man Identified in Nancy Guthrie Case After Detention; Rewards Exceed $200,000 as DNA Work Continues

tmz — The investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie intensified this week after authorities identified a man who was detained last week and the total reward offerings climbed to more than $200, 000, even as officials say there is no current evidence she was taken into Mexico.

Tmz: Detentions, identification and the on-scene timeline

Investigators say the search originated after Nancy Guthrie was found missing from her home near Tucson and that the family made public appeals for information. A person was captured on home-camera footage in front of the residence appearing to tamper with a security camera.

Key developments on the record: a man identified as Luke Daley, 37, and his 77-year-old mother were briefly detained and had their home searched on Feb. 13; neither was arrested and their lawyer has stated they have no link to Guthrie. An earlier individual stopped for questioning was a deliveryman who identified himself as Carlos; that person was also released. Investigators are said to be leaning away from both men as suspects.

Law enforcement published a short timeline tied to the early-morning activity at the Guthrie home: 1: 47 a. m. when the doorbell camera disconnected, 2: 12 a. m. when the camera software detected a person but no video is available, 11: 56 a. m. when relatives discovered Guthrie was missing, and 12: 03 p. m. when the family called 911. Anyone with information is urged to call 911 or the Pima County Sheriff's Department at 520-351-4900.

DNA leads, border outreach and reward growth

Investigators have recovered DNA from Guthrie's home that is being analyzed with genetic genealogy. Authorities describe the sample as a partial profile that may be a mixture. A genetic genealogy expert noted that mixed DNA can be especially informative in violent cases and that the genealogical process can take from minutes to several weeks, depending on the DNA's characteristics.

The investigative path under consideration includes creating a profile for genetic genealogy, using bioinformatics to extract a potential suspect profile, then testing that profile against national DNA databases or using it for family-tree searching. Officials have also communicated with Mexican authorities to make them aware of the disappearance; at the same time, there is no current evidence that Guthrie was taken across the U. S. -Mexico border.

The reward pool expanded this week. A private, anonymous donation of $100, 000 increased the local Crime Stoppers program's offering to $102, 500. The FBI has a separate $100, 000 reward, bringing combined reward offers to more than $200, 000. The private donation will be made available to eligible tipsters after verification that a tip directly results in an arrest.

Unanswered questions, next steps and why this matters

Despite recent movements in the inquiry, several factual gaps remain:

• Exact whereabouts of Nancy Guthrie are still unknown.
• Timing for completion of the genetic genealogy work is not confirmed and could range from rapid to weeks.
• Whether the DNA sample will yield an identifiable match in databases or genealogical trees has not been determined.
• While authorities have engaged Mexican counterparts, the possibility of cross-border movement is described as unsupported by current evidence.

Realistic next steps and triggers investigators are likely to follow include:

• Completion of bioinformatics processing and a genealogy profile; trigger: usable profile generated for database comparison.
• Searches of national DNA databases (CODIS) and genealogical matching; trigger: profile upload and hits or close matches.
• Continued law-enforcement coordination with Mexican authorities and border liaisons; trigger: any cross-border leads or tips.
• Verification and follow-up on tips that could produce arrests; trigger: corroborated tip evidence leading to detentions and charging decisions.

Why this matters: the case has high public visibility and significant resources devoted to it, including federal investigative support and a large monetary incentive for actionable tips. For the family, the community and investigators, the DNA work and tip verification are the most immediate avenues that could change the case's trajectory. The expanded reward and cross-jurisdictional outreach increase the chances that someone with critical information will come forward and that leads are acted on swiftly.

This remains an active and developing investigation; key forensic and investigatory milestones are pending and timing is uncertain.