An unexpected DNA profile recovered from gloves found near Nancy Guthrie’s home did not match any entries in the FBI’s national CODIS database, leaving investigators with a fresh but unresolved lead. That means law enforcement may need to turn to commercial genealogy searches and other investigative tools to try to identify the person linked to the gloves.
The lack of a CODIS match widens the investigation’s scope and raises new questions about how the unknown DNA connects to the scene and other evidence. The article will walk through the latest developments, what the DNA results imply for the case, and how investigators are pursuing leads and potential suspects.
Key Developments in the Nancy Guthrie Investigation
Investigators found DNA at Nancy Guthrie’s home and on items near her property, reviewed multiple strands of camera footage, and assembled a timeline of events that begins the night she vanished. Officials say the findings have produced leads but no definitive identification so far.
Discovery of Unidentified DNA at Tucson Home
Pima County Sheriff’s Department officers recovered DNA at Nancy Guthrie’s Catalina Foothills residence during searches of the house and surrounding property. Sheriff Chris Nanos said the material did not match anyone in close contact with Guthrie, indicating the profile likely belongs to an unknown person of interest.
Forensic teams processed blood spatters on the front stoop and other biological samples from inside the home. Investigators emphasized that the DNA is being compared to national databases and may be run through genealogical methods if a direct match does not appear.
Lab work remains ongoing. Analysts noted the samples could provide investigative leads even if they yield only a partial profile, and Pima County officials have described the family as cooperative and cleared of suspicion.
Black Glove and DNA Evidence Near the Scene
About two miles from Guthrie’s home, authorities recovered a black glove that later yielded man’s DNA. The FBI confirmed the glove appeared similar to those worn by the masked figure on doorbell footage, and investigators planned to enter the profile into national databases.
Multiple outlets reported the glove DNA returned no matches in the FBI’s CODIS system. Law enforcement sources cautioned that a lack of a database match does not close the door: they may turn to genetic genealogy or other investigative tools to find familial links.
Officials also said other gloves recovered during searches belonged to officers who discarded them while working the scene. That distinction helped narrow which items required forensic prioritization.
Doorbell and Surveillance Camera Footage
Doorbell and other surveillance footage captured a masked, armed person at Guthrie’s front door in the early hours after Jan. 31. Video shows a figure wearing a ski mask, gloves and a backpack; some clips suggested the presence of a holstered handgun.
Investigators noted the Nest doorbell was disconnected at 1:47 a.m., and motion-activated devices recorded limited or no footage because subscription services were not active. That interruption, combined with a later loss of connection with Guthrie’s pacemaker, helped narrow the likely time window of her disappearance.
Law enforcement released selected images to the public and used them to solicit tips. The FBI said the glove found offsite appeared to match those in the footage, reinforcing its importance to the probe.
Timeline of Events and Initial Police Response
On Jan. 31, Guthrie returned from visiting family; her garage opened at 9:48 p.m. and closed two minutes later. Family members last saw her then. She was reported missing the following morning after failing to join a livestreamed church service.
Officers found Guthrie’s phone, wallet, hearing aid, medication and car inside the home, and blood at the front stoop. Pima County deputies and FBI agents quickly canvassed the neighborhood, searched nearby residences and detained, then released, individuals who were later cleared.
Within days the investigation produced a ransom note sent to a local station, multiple public appeals by Savannah Guthrie, and focused forensic work on DNA, glove evidence and surveillance material. Sheriff Chris Nanos publicly affirmed the family’s cooperation and emphasized that investigators were pursuing all leads.
Leads, Suspects, and Expanding Mysteries
Investigators recovered several physical items and communications that shifted the inquiry from a missing-person search to an active criminal investigation. DNA from a glove and other trace evidence did not match profiles in the national database, prompting broader forensic and investigative steps.
Gloves, Clues, and the Ozark Trail Hiker Pack
A black glove found near the Guthrie property contained DNA that investigators say did not match Nancy Guthrie or known close contacts. The glove appears similar to one seen on camera and became a central piece for lab work and genealogical analysis. DNA from that glove will be compared against CODIS and other investigative genealogical tools.
Also recovered near the scene was a 25-liter Ozark Trail hiker pack. Photos released to the public showed wear consistent with outdoor use. Officers photographed the pack’s interior and logged items as potential trace-evidence vectors, since fabric, seams, and pockets can hold hairs, fibers, or touch DNA.
Field teams documented how the pack and glove were positioned relative to the property perimeter. That placement guided searches and helped the Pima County Sheriff’s Department catalog what might be primary versus secondary transfer evidence. Sheriff Chris Nanos has emphasized lab timelines and careful chain-of-custody handling.
Ransom Notes and Attempts to Communicate
Investigators reviewed reports of alleged ransom notes and other communications allegedly tied to the case. Law enforcement treated each document as potential evidence and ran handwriting and ink analyses when possible. Any note or message was photographed, preserved, and screened for fingerprints and DNA.
Officials have not publicly confirmed ransom demands met investigative thresholds, but sources say the materials prompted digital and physical tracing. Analysts examined the paper supply chain, postmarks, and linguistic content for regional markers. Those probes aim to link the communication to a person or to rule it out as a hoax.
The team also checked for electronic attempts to communicate, including emails and calls. They considered whether internet-connected doorbells or neighborhood apps might have captured interactions or strange messages. Technicians cross-checked timestamps with other known events in the case timeline.
Community Reactions in Catalina Foothills
Neighbors in the Catalina Foothills reported elevated concern and increased watchfulness after news of the missing woman spread. Resident posts on neighborhood apps and local social media helped surface possible sightings and time-stamped footage from doorbell cameras. Police collected dozens of civilian tips and reviewed camera angles near the Guthrie property.
Community volunteers organized search parties and distributed flyers, while some residents pressed for more frequent public updates. That civic response generated both leads and noise, creating a heavier workload for analysts who had to prioritize credible tips. Local leaders urged residents to preserve evidence and not to conduct independent confrontations or investigations.
Crime-victim advocates offered resources to family members and neighbors. That outreach focused on emotional support and guidance for secure sharing of footage with investigators, particularly from Ring-style doorbells and other internet-connected devices.
National and FBI Involvement: Next Steps
The FBI’s Phoenix office and its Operational Technology Division joined the inquiry to assist with forensic and technical resources. Federal teams are conducting advanced DNA analysis and coordinating the use of investigative genetic genealogy where appropriate. The FBI confirmed plans to run the glove DNA through national databases and to support local labs.
Sheriff Chris Nanos briefed federal partners and authorized evidence-sharing protocols. The bureau’s involvement also expanded access to database cross-checks and analytic platforms that the county cannot run alone.
Investigators identified and interviewed persons of interest, including individuals named in public reporting such as Derrick Callella and Carlos Palazuelos, while continuing to collect alibis and phone records. Teams also followed leads to nearby jurisdictions, including Rio Rico, to trace travel patterns and possible sightings.
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