FBI Investigation Intensifies in Search for Nancy Guthrie as New Evidence Emerges
Law enforcement agents are intensifying their efforts as the search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, enters its critical third week. The investigation has taken a significant turn with the discovery of new potential evidence, including a glove containing DNA that appears to match a masked individual captured on surveillance footage outside her home on the night she vanished.
Key Developments in the Case
The FBI confirmed on Sunday that a glove found approximately two miles from Guthrie's Tucson, Arizona residence has yielded preliminary DNA results that correspond with gloves worn by a suspect seen in surveillance video. This individual, described as a man about 5 feet 9 inches tall with a medium build, was recorded by a porch camera wearing a ski mask, jacket, long pants, and gloves while carrying a distinctive 25-liter "Ozark Trail Hiker Pack" backpack.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home in the upscale Catalina Foothills neighborhood on January 31 and was reported missing the following day. Authorities have revealed that her blood was discovered on the front porch, and purported ransom notes were sent to news outlets, though two payment deadlines have now passed without resolution.
Forensic Evidence and Investigative Actions
Investigators have collected DNA from Guthrie's property that does not belong to her or those in close contact with her, according to the Pima County Sheriff's Department. This evidence, along with the recently discovered glove, is being sent to an out-of-state forensic laboratory that has been involved in the case since its inception.
Law enforcement sealed off a road about two miles from Guthrie's home late Friday, with numerous sheriff's and FBI vehicles, including forensic units, passing through the roadblock. Additionally, investigators tagged and towed a Range Rover SUV from a nearby restaurant parking lot as part of the ongoing investigation.
Health Concerns and Family Appeals
Authorities have expressed serious concern about Nancy Guthrie's health condition, as she requires vital daily medication and has a pacemaker along with documented high blood pressure and heart issues. This medical vulnerability adds urgency to the search efforts.
Savannah Guthrie, along with her siblings, has made multiple emotional appeals through social media, shifting from impassioned pleas to her mother's purported captor to more desperate requests for public assistance. Their latest video shared on Thursday featured a home video of their mother with a promise to "never give up on her."
Investigation Scope and Public Response
The FBI has collected more than 13,000 tips since February 1, while the sheriff's department has received at least 18,000 calls related to the case. Several hundred detectives and agents have been assigned to investigate the disappearance, though authorities have not confirmed whether any tips have significantly advanced the investigation.
On Tuesday, sheriff's deputies detained an individual for questioning during a traffic stop south of Tucson, though the person was later released. The same day, deputies and FBI agents conducted a court-authorized search in Rio Rico, approximately an hour's drive south of the city.
The investigation continues to focus on the quiet Catalina Foothills neighborhood where Nancy Guthrie lived alone, characterized by houses spaced far apart with long driveways, gates, and dense desert vegetation separating properties from the street.
