Fresh ‘biological evidence’ found in Nancy Guthrie’s home may belong to suspect

TUCSON, ARIZONA: Investigators searching for answers in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie have reportedly uncovered new DNA evidence inside her Catalina Foothills home, and it does not belong to her.

The new development came to light on Wednesday, February 18, after authorities conducted yet another meticulous search of the residence belonging to the 84-year-old mother of 'Today' anchor Savannah Guthrie. According to sources, investigators combed through the entire property with a fine-tooth comb more than two weeks after Nancy was kidnapped.

DNA evidence analyzed in Nancy Guthrie kidnapping

Exactly what the biological evidence consists of remains unclear. It is also unknown when the material was first located or whether it has been turned over to the FBI.

The case has now entered its third week, with no suspects identified and no definitive leads publicly confirmed.

In a statement, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said investigators are “currently analyzing biological evidence” discovered inside Nancy’s home. DNA profiles tied to that material are undergoing lab analysis.

“The number of profiles and other related details remain part of the active investigation,” the statement said. Appearing on 'Today', Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos signaled that detectives believe they may be closing in on something significant.

“We believe that we may have some DNA there that may be our suspect,” Nanos said.

However, he cautioned that any confirmation will take time. Authorities will not know whether the recovered sample belongs to the kidnapper until it is “separated, sorted out,” Nanos added.

When contacted by the New York Post, the sheriff’s department confirmed that DNA evidence had been recovered from the home, describing it as “all part of the investigation.”

Glove, backpack clues in Nancy Guthrie case

The new evidence follows earlier forensic efforts that have so far come up empty.

Earlier this week, Nanos told Fox News that a discarded black glove found roughly two miles from Nancy’s home did not produce any matches in the federal DNA database. Separate DNA located earlier inside Nancy’s residence also failed to match records in the FBI system, he said.

The glove was one of more than a dozen collected near the main highway running through the Catalina Foothills neighborhood north of Tucson, where Nancy lives. However, most of those gloves turned out to be red herrings. According to the FBI, many had been dropped by volunteers and searchers participating in the initial search for Nancy after she was reported missing. Meanwhile, blood discovered spattered on Nancy’s doorstep was tested and confirmed to belong to the missing grandmother.

Investigators have also pursued leads beyond biological evidence. Among the most closely scrutinized clues were clothing and a backpack allegedly worn by the suspected kidnapper in doorbell camera footage captured the night Nancy vanished.

Authorities are working to identify the brands of every item seen in the footage and determine whether they were purchased in-store or online. The backpack was identified as a black Ozark Trail Hiker and is sold exclusively at Walmart. The suspect’s gun holster, mask, and additional clothing items seen in the video also appeared to have been sold by the retailer, CBS News previously reported.

Walmart has since provided investigators with records of Ozark Trail Hiker purchases, both online and in-store, from the past several months, extending beyond the immediate local area. Detectives have spent hours reviewing surveillance video at Walmart locations throughout the Tucson area.

Betsy Brantner Smith of the National Police Association told the Post that the backpack and holster may represent one of the most “promising” leads currently available to investigators in the case.

Guthrie family cleared in Nancy kidnapping probe

Nancy’s son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, was the last person known to have seen her. On January 31, he dropped her off at home after she had dinner with him and her daughter, Annie.

Nancy was reported missing the next day. Authorities have formally cleared members of the Guthrie family, including Cioni, as possible 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 statement.