Fox anchors reveal setback in Nancy Guthrie investigation after DNA test returns no match

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The search for Nancy Guthrie took a complicated turn on Tuesday, February 17, after investigators confirmed that DNA evidence once believed to be a possible breakthrough did not produce a match in a national database.

The update was shared during a live segment on Fox News, where anchors detailed what authorities described as both disappointing and inconclusive developments in the ongoing investigation.

While law enforcement emphasized that the case remains active, the absence of a match in the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) means investigators must now rely on more advanced forensic tools to identify the source of the evidence.

DNA from glove fails to produce match

During the broadcast, anchor John Roberts relayed new information obtained from Chris Nanos, who is overseeing the investigation.

Roberts said “The Arizona sheriff leading the search for Nancy Guthrie said that the DNA recovered from a glove found roughly two miles from Nancy’s home did not return any matches when it was submitted into the national CODIS database. Investigators had considered this a potential big break in the case.”

The glove had drawn attention because of where it was discovered and the possibility that it could directly link a suspect to Guthrie’s disappearance. 

CODIS, a national system that stores DNA profiles from convicted offenders and crime scene evidence, is often one of the first tools used in such investigations.

However, no match means that the DNA profile does not correspond to anyone currently in the federal database.

Roberts further noted “That glove will now go for further testing using investigative genetic genealogy to determine whether familial connections can help identify who the DNA belongs to.”

 He added another significant detail saying that the “DNA found inside the home is different from the DNA recovered from the glove”.

Anchors say 'hope is still alive'

Co-anchor Gillian Turner reacted to the update, highlighting the emotional and investigative impact of the news.

“I don’t think the sheriff has any clear timeline right now for when Nancy Guthrie might be found,” Turner said. “And hearing that there was no match in CODIS has got to be devastating, not only for investigators but especially the family. A lot of hope was riding on that glove being the strongest lead.”

Roberts cautioned viewers against interpreting the lack of a CODIS match as the end of that investigative path.

“Well, it may simply mean that whoever that DNA belongs to has never been convicted of a crime and therefore isn’t in the CODIS system,” he explained. 

“If investigators are able to use investigative genetic genealogy- the same type of technique that has helped crack other major cases, they may still be able to identify the person through relatives.”

Turner expressed hope and faith in investigators. The process can take weeks or months, depending on the complexity of the results.

Although the CODIS search did not deliver immediate answers, law enforcement officials have made clear that the investigation remains ongoing.