Investigators have discovered DNA evidence at the Catalina Foothills home of Nancy Guthrie that does not match hers, sources told The Post, more than two weeks after the 84-year-old woman was reported kidnapped.
The new evidence emerged Wednesday following another detailed search of the residence belonging to the mother of “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie. The exact nature of the evidence, when it was found, and whether it has been shared with the FBI remain unclear. The investigation into Nancy’s disappearance is now in its third week, with no suspects or definitive leads.
In a statement, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that investigators are “currently analyzing biological evidence” collected from the home, and that DNA profiles are under laboratory review. “The number of profiles and other related details remain part of the active investigation,” the department said.
“We believe that we may have some DNA there that may be our suspect,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told “Today” Wednesday morning, adding that authorities cannot confirm whether the sample belongs to the suspect until it has been fully processed.
The sheriff’s office said the DNA evidence is “all part of the investigation,” coming after earlier tests on a discarded black glove found about two miles from Nancy’s home showed no matches in the federal DNA database. Separate DNA previously collected at the residence also did not match any FBI records.
The black glove was one of more than a dozen items gathered from the area near the main highway that runs through Catalina Foothills. Most were later determined by the FBI to have been dropped by searchers during the initial hunt for Nancy. DNA from blood found on Nancy’s doorstep was confirmed to belong to the missing grandmother.
In addition to DNA analysis, investigators are pursuing leads from other evidence, including clothing and a backpack allegedly worn by the suspected kidnapper, captured on doorbell camera footage the night Nancy disappeared. Authorities are still working to identify the brands of all items and whether they were purchased in-store or online.
The suspect’s backpack, a black Ozark Trail Hiker, is sold exclusively at Walmart. Other gear, including a gun holster and mask, also appeared to come from the retailer. Walmart has provided purchase records from both in-store and online sales over the past several months, and investigators have reviewed hours of surveillance footage from local Tucson stores.
Betsy Brantner Smith of the National Police Association told The Post that the backpack and holster may be among the most “promising” leads in the case so far.
Nancy’s son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, was the last person to see her on January 31, after dropping her off at home following dinner with her and her daughter, Annie. She was reported missing the next day. Authorities have cleared all members of the Guthrie family, including Cioni, as potential suspects.
“To be clear…the Guthrie family — to include all siblings and spouses — has been cleared as possible suspects in this case. The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious, and are victims in this case,” Nanos said in a Monday statement.