DNA recovered from a glove found approximately three kilometres from the Tucson, Arizona, home of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of US television personality Savannah Guthrie, appears to match that of a suspect caught on surveillance footage the night of her disappearance, the FBI has confirmed.
The preliminary DNA results, received Saturday local time, are pending official confirmation, according to an FBI statement. The glove was discovered in a field beside a road and is believed to have been worn by the masked individual seen in security camera footage outside Guthrie’s home on January 31st, the night she was last seen.
Authorities have been investigating the case for nearly three weeks, after Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing on February 1st. Investigators discovered blood on the front porch of her residence, leading them to believe she was taken against her will.
Surveillance video released by the FBI shows a person wearing a ski mask, jacket, long pants and gloves, carrying a 25-litre Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack. The individual appeared to attempt to obstruct the camera’s view with foliage. The FBI described the suspect as a man approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall with a medium build.
Late Friday night, law enforcement sealed off a section of road near Guthrie’s home as part of the ongoing investigation. A Range Rover SUV was also tagged and towed from a nearby restaurant parking lot, though authorities stated no arrests were made.
Earlier in the week, deputies briefly detained an individual for questioning during a traffic stop south of Tucson, but the person was subsequently released. Investigators also conducted a court-authorised search in Rio Rico, approximately an hour south of Tucson.
Authorities have expressed concern for Nancy Guthrie’s health, noting she requires daily medication and has a history of heart problems, including a pacemaker and high blood pressure. Dispatcher audio from broadcastify.com confirms these health concerns.
The FBI has collected DNA samples from Nancy Guthrie’s property that do not match her or close contacts, and investigators are working to identify the source. Approximately sixteen gloves were also recovered near the house, most of which were identified as belonging to search teams.
Purported ransom notes were sent to news outlets following Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, but two deadlines for payment have passed without incident. The FBI continues to investigate the authenticity and origin of these notes.
