Nancy Guthrie Case
Nancy Guthrie case DNA evidence Pima County Sheriff update
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed in a press release issued on Friday afternoon, February 13, 2026, that investigators have recovered unidentified DNA from the Tucson property of Nancy Guthrie. According to the official statement, the DNA collected does not belong to the 84-year-old missing grandmother nor to anyone in “close contact” with her, such as family members or household staff. While the discovery marks a significant forensic milestone in the nearly two-week-old abduction case, Sheriff Nanos cautioned that investigators are still “working to identify who it belongs to” and have not yet officially named a suspect or a person of interest.
The recovery of the DNA follows a highly publicized decision by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department to send physical evidence—including several pairs of black gloves found within a two-mile radius of the home—to an independent laboratory in Florida rather than the FBI’s national crime lab in Quantico, Virginia. Sheriff Nanos defended the choice, stating that the Florida lab already possesses the genetic markers and profiles of those who have access to the home, which will streamline the process of elimination. “We’ve gotten DNA back,” Nanos told reporters. “Now we have to go through and try to eliminate people. We are getting closer.”
While the unidentified DNA was found inside the residence, the sheriff clarified that none of the recovered gloves were discovered on the property itself. The closest pair was located approximately two miles away and reportedly resembles the gloves worn by the masked individual seen in the doorbell camera footage released by the FBI earlier this week. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has declined to specify exactly where on the property the “other” DNA was found, citing the need to preserve the integrity of the ongoing probe. The FBI, which is collaborating on the case and recently increased its reward to $100,000, is currently reviewing thousands of hours of neighborhood surveillance footage from a two-mile radius.
As the search for the mother of TODAY show host Savannah Guthrie enters its 14th day, the forensic progress has provided a glimmer of hope amid a tense atmosphere. The Guthrie family remains in Tucson, continuing to cooperate fully with law enforcement. Sheriff Nanos addressed recent online speculation regarding family members, stating that they have been “100% completely” helpful and that there are currently no facts to support accusations against them. With Nancy Guthrie still missing and in need of critical heart medication, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department has expanded its search radius to 10 miles, urging residents to report any suspicious activity involving dark SUVs or the Ozark Trail backpack seen in the suspect images.
