Nancy Guthrie Update Today: Search Enters Day 23 as DNA Leads, Backpack Discovery Fuel Investigation
The Nancy Guthrie update today marks the beginning of Day 23 in the desperate search for the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie. As of Monday, February 23, 2026, no suspect has been arrested, but investigators are aggressively pursuing genetic genealogy, a newly discovered backpack, and thousands of public tips in what has become one of the most closely watched missing persons cases in recent memory.
Where the Nancy Guthrie Investigation Stands Today
The Pima County Sheriff's Department confirmed the investigation remains fully active. "As long as leads continue to come in, investigators will continue to follow up on them," the department said in an official statement. Roughly 400 investigators have been working around the clock, though law enforcement sources indicate the case may soon transition to a smaller, long-term task force as several early leads have not produced a break.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen at approximately 9:45 p.m. ET on January 31 when family dropped her off at her Catalina Foothills home north of Tucson, Arizona. She was reported missing the following afternoon after failing to appear for an online church service with a friend.
Backpack Discovered and DNA Complications Slow Progress
A key development in the Nancy Guthrie search over the weekend was the recovery of a backpack by volunteer searchers in an area near her home. The FBI had previously identified the suspect seen on her doorbell camera as a man approximately 5'9"–5'10" tall, carrying a 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack.
DNA evidence, however, has hit complications. Mixed biological samples recovered at Guthrie's home are creating forensic challenges for lab analysts. DNA from a black glove found roughly two miles away produced no match in CODIS, the FBI's national criminal database. A Range Rover SUV seized from a nearby restaurant parking lot is also being processed for evidence.
| Evidence Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Doorbell camera footage (masked suspect) | Active lead, canvassing gun shops |
| Black glove (found ~2 miles away) | No CODIS match; genetic genealogy underway |
| Backpack discovered by volunteers | Under analysis |
| Range Rover SUV | Seized, DNA testing in progress |
| Pacemaker signal tracker | Pacemaker disconnected ~2:30 a.m. ET on Feb. 1 |
Genetic Genealogy Becomes the Investigation's Biggest Hope
DNA expert CeCe Moore, chief genetic genealogist at Parabon NanoLabs, publicly stated that if she were the suspect, she would be "extremely concerned right now." Investigators are exploring investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), the same method used to identify Brian Kohberger in the University of Idaho murders.
The catch: major platforms like AncestryDNA, 23andMe, and MyHeritage bar law enforcement access. Detectives are limited to three smaller public databases — GEDmatch, FamilyTreeDNA, and DNA Justice — which together hold under 2 million combined profiles. Moore is urging anyone with DNA data on larger platforms to download and upload their raw data to accessible databases to assist in the Nancy Guthrie case.
Guthrie Family Cleared; Community Support Pours In
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos formally cleared all of Savannah Guthrie's siblings and their spouses as suspects. "The Guthrie family are victims plain and simple," Nanos stated. He also pushed back firmly against internet sleuths spreading baseless theories about the family.
The neighborhood surrounding Nancy Guthrie's home has seen an outpouring of yellow flowers and ribbons from supporters. The Today show studio was filled with yellow roses by NBC colleagues, all wearing yellow ribbons in solidarity.
Reward Now Stands at $202,500
The total reward for information leading to an arrest in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance has climbed to $202,500, after an anonymous donor contributed $102,500 on top of the FBI's existing $100,000 offer. Over 31,000 calls flooded the Pima County Sheriff's Department in the first 18 days of February alone.
What Investigators Are Doing Right Now
Authorities are canvassing local gun shops to identify the armed, masked individual captured on Nancy Guthrie's doorbell camera. Investigators are also narrowing down the suspect's clothing — shoes, pants, shirt, and jacket — seen in the footage. The FBI has also been in contact with Mexican authorities, given that Guthrie's home sits roughly one hour north of the border.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Pima County Sheriff's Department tip line at 520-351-4900 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
