The FBI is now reviewing potentially important DNA evidence collected from the Tucson, Arizona home of Nancy Guthrie.
According to ABC News, a private laboratory in Florida that works with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department — the agency leading the investigation — recently sent the DNA sample to the FBI. Investigators are using newer technology to conduct advanced testing to determine whether the evidence can help identify the person responsible for Guthrie’s kidnapping.
Authorities previously said the DNA recovered from Guthrie’s home appears to come from more than one individual. Officials estimate that the analysis process could take up to six months.
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been missing since February 1.
During an interview on the “Today” show last month, Savannah described disturbing details about the situation. She said her siblings, Camron and Annie, realized something was wrong when they arrived at their mother’s home.
She explained that the doors were left open, there was blood on the front doorstep, and the Ring camera had been torn off. The scene immediately signaled that something was seriously wrong.
Savannah also described how her mother was taken during the night while wearing pajamas, without shoes and without her medication.
She said the situation was deeply frightening, referring to video footage that reportedly shows an armed and masked person breaking into Nancy’s home. Savannah added that it was terrifying to imagine that the person seen in the video may have been the individual standing over her mother’s bed.
Savannah returned to the “Today” show on April 6.
Earlier this month, former FBI agent Jason Pack told Page Six that the investigation may be closing in on the suspect. He said Savannah’s return to television keeps national attention on the case.
Pack explained that the pressure increases with each passing day, noting that maintaining a secret becomes more difficult over time. He said suspects in cases like this often expect media attention to fade and public interest to disappear. However, he said this situation is different because Savannah has a national platform and appears on television every day. Each time viewers see her, he said, they are reminded of her missing mother.
In her interview with Hoda Kotb, Savannah also spoke about her decision to return to the show while her mother is still missing.
She said it was difficult to imagine returning because the program is usually a place filled with positivity. However, she said she could not stay away because the show and the people there feel like family.
Savannah said she wants to be genuine on air. When she smiles, she said, it will be real, and her joy will serve as her response to the difficult circumstances. She added that being on the show can still bring joy, and if there are moments when it does not, she will be honest about that as well.