Mysterious DNA Discovered at Nancy Guthrie’s Home

The investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie just took a chilling turn.

Authorities confirmed Friday that DNA evidence collected inside the 84-year-old’s Arizona home does not belong to her — or to anyone known to be in close contact with her.

The revelation adds urgency to a case the FBI is now officially calling a kidnapping.

Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today show cohost Savannah Guthrie, vanished in the early morning hours of Feb. 1 from her residence outside Tucson. Nearly two weeks later, investigators say they are chasing multiple leads — and narrowing in on a suspect.

“This is now being investigated as an abduction,” the FBI said in a public alert issued Feb. 12.

Federal agents released images captured from Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell camera. The footage shows a man described as approximately 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-10 with an average build. He was seen carrying a black backpack.

Officials have not publicly identified the man. They have not confirmed whether he is the source of the foreign DNA.

But the timing is notable.

The image was first shared days before the FBI formally labeled the case a kidnapping. Now, with unknown DNA recovered from inside the home, investigators believe the break-in theory is gaining weight.

“We are actively pursuing new forensic leads,” the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement, adding that evidence collected “did not belong to Nancy Guthrie or anyone in her immediate circle.”

In a sign of mounting urgency, the FBI doubled its reward to $100,000 for information leading to Nancy’s location or the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal level are now working jointly on the case.

Savannah Guthrie has not publicly detailed the evidence but has previously expressed gratitude for the law enforcement effort and public support.

Nancy Guthrie, a mother of three and longtime Arizona resident, was described by neighbors as active and independent. There were no immediate signs of forced entry reported in the early days of the search, which initially puzzled investigators.

Now, the DNA discovery could shift the trajectory of the investigation.

The case has rattled the Tucson-area community. An elderly woman taken from her own home. Surveillance footage of a stranger. A backpack. Foreign DNA.

Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward immediately. Tips can be submitted to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov, or to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900. Anonymous tips can also be made through 88-CRIME.

For now, the central question remains unanswered:

Where is Nancy Guthrie?

As investigators analyze the newly recovered DNA and track down the man seen on camera, officials say they are determined to bring her home — and hold whoever is responsible accountable.