The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has entered a tense new phase as investigators grapple with foreign DNA evidence recovered from her Catalina Foothills home that does not belong to the victim or her immediate contacts. Announced by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department in mid-February 2026, this development adds urgency to a case that has now stretched into its third week with no confirmed sighting or definitive proof of Nancy’s fate.

Nancy Guthrie was last known to be at her Tucson residence on the night of January 31 into February 1, 2026. Key digital timestamps tell a chilling story: her Nest doorbell camera went offline around 1:47 a.m., followed by footage of a masked individual approaching the front door at 2:12 a.m. At precisely 2:28 a.m., her Bluetooth-enabled pacemaker disconnected from the companion app on her phone, an event interpreted as either rapid removal from Bluetooth range or deliberate disabling of the device. Authorities have treated the incident as a targeted abduction from the outset, ruling out voluntary departure given her advanced age, cardiac conditions requiring daily medication, and predictable daily routine.

On February 13, Sheriff Chris Nanos revealed during media interviews that biological evidence collected inside the home belonged to someone other than Nancy Guthrie or individuals in her close circle. “DNA other than Nancy Guthrie’s and those in close contact to her has been collected from the property,” he stated, adding that lab analysis was ongoing to determine its origin and potential link to the intruder. While the exact nature of the sample—touch DNA from doorknobs, furniture, or other surfaces—remains confidential, the sheriff indicated it was considered promising and possibly from the suspect.

Compounding the mystery, DNA lifted from a black glove found roughly two miles from the residence also failed to match any profile in the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). The glove, recovered during extensive ground searches and visually consistent with those worn by the masked figure in the doorbell footage, was one of more than a dozen similar items collected in the desert landscape. Investigators distinguished it due to its location in an open field near a roadway and its apparent match to the suspect’s attire. Submission to CODIS on February 17 yielded no hits, meaning the individual who left the genetic material—whether from the home or the glove—has no prior entry in the national offender database.

With direct CODIS matches unavailable, the investigation has pivoted to investigative genetic genealogy, a method that uploads unknown profiles to public ancestry databases such as GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA. These platforms rely on voluntary uploads from millions of consumer DNA testers, allowing researchers to identify distant relatives and construct family trees that can narrow suspect pools dramatically. This approach has solved numerous cold cases and stranger abductions in recent years by bridging the gap between forensic evidence and publicly available genetic information. Experts caution that success depends on sample quality, database coverage, and the perpetrator’s familial participation in commercial testing.

The multi-agency response—coordinated by Pima County Sheriff’s deputies, the FBI, and state partners—has handled over 50,000 public tips and mobilized hundreds of personnel. Aerial searches using a custom Bluetooth sniffer developed by ethical hacker David Kennedy continue, targeting the pacemaker’s last known signal. Ground teams, K-9 units, and drones have scoured the rugged terrain surrounding Tucson. Sheriff Nanos has emphatically cleared the Guthrie family, including Savannah, siblings Annie and Camron, and their spouses, of any involvement, describing them as “victims plain and simple” and denouncing online speculation as “cruel and unfounded.”

Savannah Guthrie has remained a visible voice of hope, posting emotional updates and direct appeals. In her most recent solo Instagram video, she said: “It is never too late to do the right thing. You’re not lost or alone.” Earlier ransom notes delivered to media outlets proved fruitless, with deadlines passing without contact or resolution. Authorities maintain an open stance, stressing no evidence confirms harm to Nancy and that the case remains active with relentless pursuit of every lead.

Obstacles persist. The foreign DNA requires careful validation to exclude contamination, innocent transfer, or secondary deposition. The lack of CODIS hits suggests the perpetrator may have no prior criminal record in the U.S. system, or the samples may be partial or degraded. Desert conditions can accelerate evidence deterioration, and the elapsed time since February 1 heightens concerns for an elderly woman dependent on medication and cardiac monitoring.

Catalina Foothills residents continue to cooperate, sharing private security footage and participating in volunteer searches. Public vigils, social media campaigns, and an increasing reward fund reflect widespread concern and solidarity. The case’s high profile, driven by Savannah Guthrie’s national platform, has kept it in the spotlight across major networks.

As February 19, 2026, unfolds, attention centers on the unidentified DNA. Genetic genealogy could yield familial connections leading to identification and, potentially, Nancy’s safe return. The sheriff expresses measured optimism, reiterating that every possible avenue is being explored without pause.

The nation watches and waits, united in hope that these elusive genetic traces—foreign to the home yet stubbornly unmatched—will finally reveal the path to bringing Nancy Guthrie home.