DNA analysis of hair from Nancy Guthrie's home yields no new leads

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told ABC News that DNA testing of hair recovered from the Tucson home of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, has not produced a usable suspect profile. The FBI’s Phoenix office confirmed that the hair samples have been resolved but do not point to any individual, noting that hair yields DNA far less reliably than touch DNA or bodily fluids.

A mixed DNA sample from the residence is believed to contain genetic material from up to four people. Laboratories in several states, including the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, are attempting to isolate the contributors, though Nanos said it remains uncertain whether the effort will be successful. He added that “there are at least five, maybe six, labs across the country working on all of this.”

Investigators have also reviewed doorbell-camera footage that captured a masked, backpack-wearing figure on the property hours before Guthrie was reported missing, as well as a similar individual on a prior day. Nanos cautioned that “I don’t think anybody’s here ready to say it’s one guy, it’s 10 guys,” suggesting the possibility of multiple participants.

Savannah Guthrie released a video appealing for information, urging anyone with knowledge of her mother’s whereabouts to contact authorities. Nanos echoed the request, stating, “Somebody in our community, somebody out in this world knows something. Call us, tell us, give us that information.”

Despite the high-profile nature of the case and several ransom notes, law enforcement officials say they have not yet obtained actionable leads. Nanos told People magazine that ongoing DNA work is generating new ideas and that the department believes it is moving closer to answers.