Investigators have uncovered what is being described as biological evidence inside the Tucson, Arizona home of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of TODAY co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, who has been missing since February 1 — and authorities are now actively exploring whether the suspect captured on surveillance video had help carrying out the abduction.
DNA Evidence Recovered From Inside the Home
According to the New York Post, investigators discovered DNA evidence during a search of Nancy Guthrie's Catalina Foothills home that does not belong to the 84-year-old herself. The biological material was reportedly found more than two weeks into the investigation. If confirmed to belong to the kidnapper or an associate, it could represent one of the most significant forensic leads to emerge since Nancy disappeared on February 1.
Authorities have not publicly identified any suspects, and it remains unclear when the DNA was collected or what type of biological material was recovered. The Pima County Sheriff's Department (PCSD) and the FBI, which are jointly leading the investigation, have not issued formal comment on the specific evidence.
Accomplice Theory Under Investigation
In a separate development reported by People magazine, investigators say they are exploring the possibility that the suspect seen on doorbell and surveillance camera footage did not act alone. Authorities have not confirmed a second individual was present during the abduction, but the theory is being actively examined as the case stretches into its third week with no arrest.
The suspect seen in publicly released surveillance images — a person wearing dark clothing and gloves — remains unidentified. Whether a potential accomplice also appears in any footage not yet released to the public has not been confirmed by law enforcement.
Background: 19 Days and No Arrest
As the New York Times summarized in a comprehensive overview published Friday, very little confirmed information has emerged publicly since Nancy Guthrie vanished from her home on February 1. The 84-year-old was abducted under circumstances that investigators have described as deliberate, with surveillance footage showing a figure approaching the property in the early morning hours.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department has processed thousands of tips since the disappearance — a total that would surpass 55,000 calls within days of this reporting, according to earlier PCSD statements — though no actionable lead has yet produced a named suspect, according to Sheriff Chris Nanos.
The FBI has been involved in the investigation from early in the case given the nature of the abduction. Multiple searches of the surrounding Catalina Foothills neighborhood and nearby areas have been conducted, but Nancy has not been located.
The Investigation So Far
Evidence collected during the investigation includes items recovered from the scene and surrounding neighborhood, all of which have been submitted to forensic laboratories for analysis, according to PCSD. The newly reported DNA evidence, if it yields a viable profile, would give investigators a biological marker to compare against any future suspect.
Investigators have also been examining surveillance footage from the neighborhood, including a doorbell camera image of the suspect that multiple outlets have reported was captured on a day prior to the February 1 abduction — raising the theory that the suspect may have scouted the home in advance. PCSD has characterized that interpretation as speculative, and the FBI has declined to comment on it directly.
Family Awaits Word
Savannah Guthrie and her family have remained publicly engaged throughout the search, urging anyone with information to contact law enforcement. The case has drawn intense national media attention, in part because of Savannah Guthrie's prominent role as a co-anchor of NBC's TODAY show, but also because of the circumstances of the abduction — a daytime disappearance of an elderly woman from her own home in an upscale Tucson neighborhood.
Nancy Guthrie is described as 5 feet 1 inch tall and approximately 115 pounds. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pima County Sheriff's Department tip line.
What to Watch For
The discovery of DNA evidence not belonging to Nancy Guthrie is a potentially pivotal development — investigators will need to determine whether it can be matched to a suspect in any existing database, or whether it must wait until a person of interest is identified through other means. The accomplice theory, if substantiated, would significantly complicate the investigation but could also open new avenues for witnesses who may have seen more than one person in the area. Watch for any law enforcement press conference addressing the forensic findings, and whether the FBI releases additional surveillance images as the case approaches the one-month mark.