Nancy Guthrie Search Enters Third Week: 5 Things to Know

The search for the missing mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie entered its third week on Sunday as officials confirmed they are testing gloves that were recovered in connection with the case.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, disappeared from her Arizona home on Jan. 31, and her disappearance was reported to the authorities by her family on Feb. 1. So far, no suspects have been publicly identified in the case, although officials last week released video footage of a masked individual at her home on the morning she disappeared who was seen wearing gloves and appeared to be trying to tamper with a doorbell camera.

FBI Confirms Glove Match

A spokesperson for the FBI told The Epoch Times on Sunday that a glove with DNA that was found in the area near the woman’s home appears to match the glove worn by a suspect who was seen in the camera footage.

The bureau added that it is awaiting final DNA testing results from the glove, which could take 24 hours.

“The FBI received preliminary results yesterday on 2/14 and are awaiting quality control and official confirmation today before putting [an] unknown male profile into CoDIS, the national database unique to the bureau,” the FBI said in an emailed statement on Sunday.

The FBI also said that it obtained 16 gloves while searching around Nancy Guthrie’s neighborhood near Tucson, Arizona.

“Most of them were searchers’ gloves that they discarded in various areas when they searched the vicinity,” the FBI shared.

Investigators collected DNA from Guthrie’s property that doesn’t belong to Guthrie or those in close contact with her, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said over the weekend. Investigators are working to identify whose DNA it is.

Investigators found multiple gloves about 2 miles from Guthrie’s home, and submitted them for lab analysis, the sheriff’s department said. It did not specify what type of gloves. The sheriff stressed his department is working closely with the FBI.

Suspect Described by FBI

Last week, the law enforcement agency said the person seen in the video is 5-foot-9-inches to 5-foot-10-inches tall, with an average build. He was wearing a 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker backpack, the FBI said.

Authorities have said that anyone with information or tips should contact 1-800-CALL-FBI, 88-CRIME, 520-351-4900, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, or the FBI through its website. The Pima County sheriff and the FBI announced phone numbers and a website to offer tips.

A $100,000 reward has been announced for any information that could lead to Nancy Guthrie being located or for the arrest and conviction of a suspect in connection with the case, the FBI has said. The dollar amount was increased last week, days after the bureau initially said it would provide a $50,000 reward.

Family Has Made Pleas

Savannah Guthrie, her sister, and her brother have posted on social media several video messages about their mother, including statements in response to alleged ransom notes that may have been sent in connection with the case.

Multiple media outlets said they have received the notes, and the FBI said it was taking them seriously. Earlier in February, an FBI agent said there were deadlines associated with the notes, although they have already passed.

The latest video released by Savannah Guthrie came on Feb. 12 and included a home video of their mother, with a message that her family would “never give up on her.”

Sheriff Denies Claims

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos late last week denied claims that he was not sharing information or evidence with the FBI and said that there appeared to be a misunderstanding about lab testing.

“Not even close to the truth,” Nanos said of claims included in a Reuters report that cited anonymous sources and said the sheriff was blocking FBI access to evidence in the case. Nanos said that “the FBI just wanted to send the one or two [gloves] they found by the crime scene, closest to it, mile, mile and a half.”

Speaking to a local media outlet, Nanos said the focus was still on finding Nancy Guthrie. “When this is all done with, offer your critiques all you want, but right now we have work to do,” the sheriff told the outlet.

Later on Feb. 13, the White House’s press secretary confirmed the FBI is on the ground and working in Tucson in an attempt to locate the missing woman and find a suspect.

“Our hearts break every day that this goes on, and again, the FBI is on the ground wanting to assist in any way that they can,” Karoline Leavitt told Fox News.

Lawmaker Tells YouTubers to Leave

A local state lawmaker said over the weekend that livestreamers and podcasters should leave the area around Nancy Guthrie’s home, saying they are not respecting the seriousness of the woman’s disappearance or the case.

“As someone who lives & represents Tucson/Pima County, I am so sick of watching the ‘reporting,’ grifting, insane speculation, lies, and BS by random wannabe journalists and YouTubers who have now caused more harm than good to this entire situation and put this serious case in jeopardy,” Arizona state House Rep. Alma Hernandez, a Democrat, wrote in a post on X.

Hernandez said that those people should “GO HOME” and let “law enforcement do their jobs” before adding that there are “constant LIES from those who can’t even spell Tucson and clearly have never been to our city.”

Jacki Thrapp and The Associated Press contributed to this report.