SUMMARY
- DNA from gloves found near Nancy Guthrie’s home showed no match in CODIS.
- Investigators are pursuing investigative genetic genealogy in the Nancy Guthrie abduction.
- The FBI increased the reward to $100,000 as nearly 40,000 tips are reviewed.
TUCSON, Ariz. — DNA recovered from gloves linked to the abduction of Nancy Guthrie has not produced a match in the FBI’s national database, though investigators say the evidence may still help identify a suspect as forensic analysis continues, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said Tuesday.
The absence of a database hit in the Nancy Guthrie abduction underscores both the limits and potential of modern forensic tools.
Authorities say additional DNA samples collected inside the Tucson home of Guthrie, 84, could prove more significant as analysts work to separate and compare genetic material.
Guthrie was taken Feb. 1 from her home in Tucson. Surveillance footage captured a masked person on her porch. Blood confirmed to be Guthrie’s was found outside the residence.
Gloves discovered roughly two miles away appear similar to those worn by the person seen on video, investigators said.
Nanos said preliminary testing identified an unknown male profile on the gloves, but it yielded no match in the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS.
Nearly 40,000 public tips have been submitted. The FBI raised the reward for information leading to her recovery to $100,000.
“Forensic genealogy has transformed cold cases, but it requires careful validation and legal oversight,” said Erin Murphy, a law professor at New York University who studies genetic privacy and criminal justice.
She said investigative genetic genealogy can generate leads even when CODIS produces no match.
John Butler, a senior scientist with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, said degraded or mixed samples often require extensive separation before meaningful comparisons can occur.
“The quality and quantity of DNA directly affect the strength of any lead,” he said. Nanos said the lack of a match “is not a setback” and described the home based DNA as potentially more probative than discarded gloves.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department continues ground searches in surrounding areas. Family members have issued public appeals for Guthrie’s safe return, noting she requires regular medication and is in poor health.
Authorities said next steps include further laboratory separation of samples and comparison through genealogical databases permitted under investigative guidelines. Officials declined to specify where inside the home the DNA was recovered.
While the Nancy Guthrie abduction investigation has yet to identify a suspect, officials say evolving forensic techniques and continued public engagement remain central to efforts to locate her and determine who is responsible.
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