Nancy Guthrie Update Today: DNA Challenges Stall Investigation as Search Enters Week 4
The Nancy Guthrie update today brings mounting frustration for investigators and a heartbroken family as the search for the 84-year-old mother of NBC's Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie enters its fourth week with no suspect identified and no confirmed sighting. Monday, February 24, marks Day 23 since Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Tucson, Arizona home — and critical forensic evidence continues to face delays.
Nancy Guthrie Update: Where the Investigation Stands on Day 23
As of today, 400 investigators are still assigned to the Nancy Guthrie case operating around the clock. The Pima County Sheriff's Department has confirmed the investigation remains fully active, stating it "will remain an active investigation until Nancy Guthrie is found or all leads are exhausted." However, the pace of breakthroughs has slowed significantly, with key evidence hitting snags at the forensic level.
DNA Evidence Hits a Forensic Snag
The centerpiece of the latest Nancy Guthrie update is a troubling development in DNA analysis. Investigators recovered partial, mixed DNA from in and around her home in the Catalina Foothills — but the samples have not yet yielded a match in the FBI's national database.
| DNA Evidence Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Mixed DNA from crime scene | No database match — sent to Florida lab |
| Glove found 2 miles from home | No FBI database hit |
| Genetic genealogy testing | In progress — could take weeks to months |
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told NBC News the lab is dealing with challenges separating mixed samples, but added that rapidly evolving technology could resolve the issue "in a matter of weeks, months or maybe a year." DNA expert CeCe Moore appeared on the Today show and warned the suspect directly: "If I was the kidnapper, I would be extremely concerned right now — using investigative genetic genealogy, he will be identified."
Suspect May Have Visited Home Before the Abduction
A significant new detail in the Nancy Guthrie update today: sources told ABC News that the masked suspect captured on Guthrie's doorbell camera appeared at her front door on a prior occasion, before February 1. Former FBI agent Jason Pack told ABC News this could indicate the suspect was conducting pre-abduction surveillance of the property, suggesting the crime was premeditated and carefully planned.
Key Clues: Backpack, Holster, and Clothing
Investigators believe the best physical leads in the Nancy Guthrie case remain the suspect's distinctive clothing and accessories visible in the FBI-released doorbell footage:
- A backpack sold exclusively at Walmart
- A unique gun holster worn in an unusual position
- Clothing items including shoes, pants, shirt, and jacket — which authorities say they are getting closer to identifying
Multiple Suspects Not Ruled Out
In a notable development from this weekend, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said investigators are not ruling out the possibility that more than one person was involved in the abduction. Sheriff Nanos addressed the question directly on Today, saying: "There could be, but that doesn't mean there is."
Reward Reaches $202,500 — Family Cleared
The total reward in the Nancy Guthrie case has climbed to $202,500, after an anonymous donor contributed $102,500 on top of the FBI's standing $100,000 offer. The Guthrie family — including Savannah and her siblings Annie and Camron — has been formally cleared as suspects by Sheriff Nanos, who stated: "The Guthrie family are victims plain and simple."
The FBI has also reached out to Mexican authorities as part of the cross-border scope of the investigation. Anyone with information is urged to call the Pima County Sheriff's tip line at 520-351-4900 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
