Investigators provided a major update Monday in the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, as a forensic breakthrough has shifted the focus of the two-week search.
The FBI confirmed Sunday that DNA recovered from a black glove found in a field approximately two miles from Guthrie’s Tucson home matches the profile of the masked suspect captured on doorbell surveillance footage. The glove, one of 16 items recovered during an exhaustive search of the surrounding foothills, resembles the pair worn by the individual seen brandishing a weapon and carrying a 25-liter Ozark Trail backpack the night Guthrie vanished on January 31.
Local law enforcement officials emphasized that while the DNA match is a significant “investigative milestone,” the case remains active and no suspects are currently in custody. Forensic teams are now working to upload the recovered profile into national databases in an effort to identify the individual. Authorities also noted that “unidentified DNA” found inside the residence is being compared with samples from family members and household staff to further narrow the search.
The Guthrie family has requested continued privacy as they process these developments. Savannah Guthrie, who suspended her coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics to remain in Arizona, shared a brief message through a spokesperson thanking the community for the thousands of tips received.
While sheriff’s officials cautioned that the investigation could still take weeks or months, the discovery of the glove provides the first direct link between physical evidence and the suspect seen on camera. For now, officials are urging the public to avoid speculation as digital tracking and cellular analysis continue to reconstruct the suspect’s movements.
