Investigators searching for answers in Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapping case recently uncovered DNA evidence inside her Arizona home. However, experts now say the discovery may not provide the clear breakthrough many expected. According to officials and independent specialists, the genetic material presents significant challenges that could slow progress. As the investigation continues, authorities caution that results may take considerable time to analyze and interpret.
Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case evidence unlikely to be a ‘good source’ of DNA, says expert
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, went missing on February 1, according to authorities. Weeks later, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told NBC News that DNA recovered from inside her home was “mixed.” “We listen to our lab, and our lab tells us that there’s challenges with it,” Nanos said, adding that processing the evidence could take “weeks, months, or maybe a year.”
To better understand what that means, PEOPLE spoke with CeCe Moore, chief genetic genealogist at Parabon Nanolabs. Moore is not involved in the investigation but has worked with the lab assisting the sheriff’s office. She explained that a complex mixture can be significantly harder to interpret than a single-source sample.
“The more people you get in that DNA (sample), particularly unknown people’s DNA, the harder it is to just isolate one person’s out of that,” Moore said. If the lab is encountering difficulty, she suggested, “that tells me it’s a very difficult sample.”
As per publicly available information, Moore said she believes the material is “less likely to be a blood sample or something that is a really good source of DNA.” Still, she pointed out a potential upside, saying the mere presence of DNA evidence could be significant. “If I was the kidnapper, I would be extremely worried right now,” Moore said, particularly if there was any physical interaction inside the home.
Surveillance footage reportedly shows an armed individual at Guthrie’s front door wearing gloves and a mask. However, Moore noted that even with precautions, avoiding DNA transfer entirely can be difficult. She observed that the individual appeared to hold a flashlight in his mouth at one point. According to her, this could have allowed saliva to transfer to surfaces. “It would be extremely difficult to be in a location for approximately 40 minutes and not leave your DNA behind,” she said.
