The investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance has taken a turn after authorities in Pima County handed over DNA samples from her home in Tucson, Arizona, to the FBI for further testing.
The DNA is a piece of rootless hair, according to several reports, although this has yet to be confirmed by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. The FBI lab boasts incredibly advanced technology that can help fast-track the search for the missing 84-year-old, who disappeared on February 1.
Former FBI agent Greg Rogers spoke to Parade about how this new development in Nancy’s case could change everything and help her loved ones find much-needed answers as to her whereabouts.
“The FBI lab is the best in the country,” he told the publication. “A high-priority case like this is prioritized and results can come back in a matter of days. We also have contacts in Mexico that will be utilized to further investigate any solid DNA testing results.“
Nancy, the mother of Today star Savannah Guthrie, was taken from her home in Tucson, which sits about 70 miles from the Mexican border. Additionally, a note sent to TMZ claimed that she was alive in Mexico in early April. “The FBI lab has certain DNA testing capabilities that most local labs don’t, such as nuclear DNA, Y-chromosome DNA, and mitochondrial DNA,” Greg continued.
“Those tests are often used on shed hair fragments, which are an issue in the Guthrie case.” According to reports, the piece of hair found at Nancy’s house was rootless, making it more difficult to locate a match. “The FBI’s unique combination of the CODIS database, specialized testing, and national and international coordination gives it the preeminent role in working these types of cases,” he added.
CeCe Moore, the genetic genealogy expert for Finding Your Roots, appeared on Brian Entin Investigates to explain how a murder case in New York could change the way Nancy’s own case unfolds. A technique used to catch the Gilgo Beach serial killer, Rex Heuermann, could allow the hair analysis to form part of Nancy’s case if a suspect is apprehended.
Learn more about the ongoing investigation below…
“I’ve been really hoping that maybe they had some hair to work with. Because of the more recent advancements in the field, hair actually can make the case solvable,” she said. The DNA test results were used as evidence in the courtroom for the second time ever in New York for Rex’s case, despite the hair samples being “degraded” and “rootless“.
The new method allows old, poor-quality strands to be used as evidence if thousands of small areas on the strand match up in DNA testing. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who denied that any persons of interest were currently in custody, sparked backlash on Thursday when the department shared a post to X that read: “Update: Nancy has been located.”
© Getty ImagesThe post referred to a missing woman, Nancy Radakovich, but due to the omission of her last name, many assumed that it was Nancy Guthrie who had been located instead.
© Getty Images“You couldn’t have included her last name in this tweet? I thought you were talking about Guthrie for a second,” said one social media user, while another added: “Could you be more tone deaf? Nancy has been located? You are just toying with us at this point.“
Nancy went missing on February 1 after having dinner with her daughter, Annie Guthrie, and her son-in-law, Tomasso Cioni, the previous night. Several days after her disappearance, authorities released chilling footage from her doorbell camera, which showed a masked man approaching her front door with a gun tucked into the waistline of his pants.
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