Nearly three weeks after she vanished from her Tucson home, the search for the 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie has taken an emotional toll on her family as each day passes without answers. Savannah Guthrie’s beloved mom, Nancy, was last seen on January 31 after spending the evening with loved ones. She was reported missing the following morning when she did not attend church.
As the investigation proceeds with new updates every hour, a former FBI special agent says the case may be approaching a pivotal moment.
Former FBI Agent Says Forensic Genealogy Could Speed Up DNA Break
GettyJohn Iannarelli said on “Fox and Friends” that advances in forensic genealogy could produce answers faster than many expect, despite the recent disappointment surrounding DNA evidence.
“I imagine we’re going to see a fairly quick turnaround. We might even hear something within the next 24 or 48 hours,” he said. Even so, Iannarelli stressed that the investigation does not appear to be losing momentum.
Why a CODIS Miss Does Not Mean the Trail Has Gone Cold
GettyEarlier this week, authorities said DNA recovered from a black nitrile glove discovered roughly two miles from Nancy’s home did not match samples taken inside the house or any profile in the national CODIS system.
The glove had drawn attention because it appeared similar to one worn by a masked individual seen on Nancy’s doorbell camera before her disappearance.
The lack of a match was a setback for those closely following the case. Iannarelli cautioned against reading too much into it. “This is not the end of the road,” he said.
He emphasized that investigators can also turn to commercial genealogy platforms for potential leads.
“There’s been a lot of ways DNA has been developed through the other systems out there. The 23andMe, Ancestry,” he said.
“Any person related to that individual who left their DNA behind at Nancy Guthrie’s home, if they’ve ever taken that test, that DNA evidence is going to be out there, and it will link them to other relatives.”
Since the DNA has already been analyzed, Iannarelli said genealogical testing could proceed without significant delay.
Sheriff Says Case Is Active and ‘Far From Cold’
GettyAs legal analysts and former investigators weigh in publicly, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has firmly rejected the idea that the case has lost steam.
“As long as we have the ability to chase a lead, it’s not cold,” Nanos told NBC News. “We’re not going to give up. We’re going to find Nancy, and we’re going to find out who did this.”
Nanos acknowledged that the DNA mismatch tied to the glove was frustrating. Still, he stressed that investigators are prioritizing stronger evidence recovered from inside the home.
His detectives have “other DNA evidence from the scene, that is more critical to me than DNA found two miles from the scene,” he told Fox10.
“All of that will still be submitted for further analysis,” he said.
“You take a fingerprint, and you hope to match it right away. But that’s not that easy.”
Nanos added that mixed DNA from several individuals was found at the scene. He said he must “hope” forensic experts can “separate that.”
Officials also clarified that 16 gloves were recovered in the area. Most were worn by investigators during property processing.
‘Is There Proof of Death?’ Sheriff Holds Onto Hope
GettyAs questions intensify and public attention grows, Nanos has stayed clear and consistent on one central point. He says there is no confirmed evidence that Nancy is dead.
“They ask me, do I have proof of life? I ask them, is there proof of death?” Nanos said.
“I’m going to have that faith, and sometimes that faith, that hope, is all we have… My team, 400 people out there in the field today, woke up this morning and went out there with the hope and the belief that they’re going to find Nancy.”
His message was both determined and personal. He made it clear that the work is not slowing down.
“We’re going to continue working this case, every minute of every day, and we will find her.”
Then he addressed whoever may be responsible. “And we will find you… to the individual doing this, let her go, just let her go. It will work out better for you in the long run, trust me.”
For Nancy’s family, every update carries emotional weight. The recent DNA disappointment was difficult. The renewed focus on genealogy testing has brought cautious hope.
Investigators say the search remains active. For now, hope continues to drive the effort forward.
