By Jack Phillips
Contributing Writer
The Arizona sheriff’s department involved in the search of “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie’s mother said on Wednesday that a DNA profile found on a glove near the woman’s residence turned up negative in a database search.
“DNA evidence from gloves found approximately 2 miles from Nancy Guthrie’s residence was submitted to CODIS [and] produced no matches,” the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said in a post on X, using an acronym for the Combined DNA Index System used by the FBI to compare DNA profiles from offenders.
“There is additional DNA evidence that was found at the residence that is also being analyzed,” the sheriff’s department said, without providing additional details.
Sheriff Chris Nanos separately told Fox News on Tuesday, “[We are] hopeful that we’re always getting closer, but the news now, I think, is we had heard this morning that, of course, the DNA on the glove that was found 2 miles away was submitted for CODIS.”
The FBI did not respond by publication time to a request for comment.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, went missing from her home in Catalina Foothills in the Tucson, Arizona, area on Jan. 31 and was reported missing a day later. Officials have warned that she needs medication to live and that DNA testing of blood found at her home has confirmed that it is her blood. They said they believe that she was taken against her will.
In the meantime, Savannah Guthrie and members of her family have released multiple social media videos asking the public for help in locating the missing woman. They have also released videos addressing any alleged abductors in response to purported ransom notes making financial demands on the family that were sent to media outlets.
Nanos told multiple media outlets on Monday that members of Nancy Guthrie’s family and their spouses had been quickly ruled out as suspects in her disappearance, and he suggested that media outlets and influencers cease spreading speculation online.
This past week, authorities made a break in the case by releasing video footage and images of a male wearing a mask and gloves. The images were captured via the doorbell camera at Nancy Guthrie’s home. It showed the person trying to tamper with the camera at about the time of her disappearance.
Nanos has said that the mask and clothing the man wore may have been purchased at a Walmart. He said the Ozark Trail Hiker backpack recovered in the case is only sold at the retailer. The suspect was described by the FBI as between 5 feet, 9 inches and 5 feet, 10 inches tall, with a medium build.
The federal law enforcement agency is offering a $100,000 reward for information that could lead to the location of Nancy Guthrie or information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect.
Over the past weekend, the FBI confirmed in a statement that gloves that were recovered in connection with the disappearance had been sent to its national laboratory for DNA testing.
President Donald Trump again weighed in on Monday, telling media outlets that anyone convicted of kidnapping Nancy Guthrie could face the death penalty if she is not returned alive.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department wrote in another X post on Tuesday that there are currently no news conferences scheduled but that one will be arranged if any new, significant development is confirmed.
