AZ Nancy Guthrie, 84, (mother of TODAY Show host Savannah Guthrie) missing - last seen in the Catalina foothills area on Jan 31, 2026

[justpeachy22]

Why do people think if the family pays the ransom money that the note writer will keep their word and give them information to recover Nancy? We’re talking about someone who is extorting a grieving family, whether or not they’re telling the truth. Money can’t buy morals.

I’ve said it before, but what if the FBI has advised the family that by paying the money, any leverage they have over the kidnapper to keep her alive is gone? If the FBI told me that it was a bigger statistical probability she would die if I paid, rather than if I didn’t pay, there is no way I’m paying the money, no matter how wealthy I am.

Agree. I’ve probably watched too many crime shows to know that the payout of a ransom with good law enforcement is extremely rare. LE can usually reel them in eventually and catch them without paying out any money. Once a payment is made, you tend to lose contact with them and your family member on the other end of the line. The key is to keep them in contact. The money is their goal. Returning the family member back safely is typically not.

 

[RayVon]

Curious. I realize lots of people go thru their garage vs front door when they come home, but looking at where the driveway is to the front door vs to the garage (having to back out), wouldn't it be more practical (for SIL and her) to have gone thru the front when dropped off? Must have been a normal routine. On the other hand, the opener conveniently made a record of when she was dropped off. Again, there could be a great explaination, but I do question it.

 

[RayVon]

Maybe the garage entrance to the house was closer to a closet, bathroom or her bedroom. She also probably didn't have to deal with stairs. Moo

 

[Cassie P]

As i understand they can't use the few biggest databases for genealogy tho. I hope they still find a match in the other databanks
(From 13 minute mark on)

One of the data banks LE uses has some data from other much larger genetic genealogy sites. People who test at the main genetic genealogy sites can upload their DNA data to one of the sites now used by LE.

This one LE site started out many years ago as just a regular GG site with some fancy tools and helpful ways to analyze data.
People would download their data from the other main sites to use these tools.

Then it became part of an LE data bank. Most people still kept their DNA at the site. But you had to opt in or out of the LE use of the data. Many people thought, hey if a relative of mine commits a crime, I am not protecting them so they left their DNA sample at the LE site.

And regular people still use this site to analyze their DNA. (I was just on this site the other day, helping a cousin analyze their DNA data.)

So say if you doing your DNA investigation at this one LE DNA site, you can see where the matches have come in terms of other DNA sites. You can see some of the family trees, and then you can hightail it over to those other sites and find more extensive trees for those matches. So you can kind of back door things a bit.

This LE site will give you family surnames, birth locations of ancestors, etc. So you can narrow it down right off the bat.

I used to do adoption searches, it is the same procedure LE uses for criminal investigation.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

An FBI official told Fox News Digital DNA recovered from a glove believed tied to the suspect in the Nancy Guthrie case is still undergoing quality control testing at the sheriff’s private lab in Florida after being sent from Tucson on Feb. 12.

Once that process is complete, the profile is expected to be entered into the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS, in the near future – possibly as soon as tonight – which could determine whether it matches anyone in the national database.

When asked whether more than one suspect could be involved, the official pointed to FBI Director Kash Patel’s comments on “Hannity” last week referencing “persons of interest,” indicating investigators are not ruling out the possibility of multiple individuals.

Nancy Guthrie latest: DNA from recovered glove undergoing lab testing, FBI says

Nancy Guthrie was taken from her home in Tucson, Arizona, more than two weeks ago and remains missing. Authorities have yet to publicly name any suspects or persons of interest as they investigate recovered DNA.

www.foxnews.com

 

[Cassie P]

HI yes Geneologist here. The reason they can't use big databases such as Ancestry is because of privacy regulations (Also, a lot of countries do not like DNA tests or it's illegal). However, there are some companies that offer opt-ins to assist, such as Gedmatch. Im hoping in the future that big databases will have opt in as well. Im sure Othram could solve this or at least get a second cousin within a couple of weeks, but they would have to throw everything at it. Of course, they would not be able to find the exact perpetrator if there isn't dna to compare it to, but they may get close enough. I believe Othram has said they were upset that the DNA was sent to a "Not so good lab"

Yes if LE could use Ancestry which has the largest DNA databank, over 25 million users, along with attached family trees, LE would have a much easier job.

Yes with Gedmatch LE can still get close, at least identify family surnames, possible birth locations, ethnic background etc. So you can rule in or out suspects if you have a list of them. Or at least know some basic background facts.

 

[pulchra73]

HI yes Geneologist here. The reason they can't use big databases such as Ancestry is because of privacy regulations (Also, a lot of countries do not like DNA tests or it's illegal). However, there are some companies that offer opt-ins to assist, such as Gedmatch. Im hoping in the future that big databases will have opt in as well. Im sure Othram could solve this or at least get a second cousin within a couple of weeks, but they would have to throw everything at it. Of course, they would not be able to find the exact perpetrator if there isn't dna to compare it to, but they may get close enough. I believe Othram has said they were upset that the DNA was sent to a "Not so good lab"

When I put my DNA into Ancestry and Gedmatch, I gave consent. Wasn't I also asked when my DNA was first given?

 

[Laura Avery]

burner phone or just record on a local device. they are sending emails that they can’t trace

A burner phone needs wifi or data to interact with ",The other person". If just recording how are they interacting with each other at that exact time?

 

[flakesofsnow]

A burner phone needs wifi or data to interact with ",The other person". If just recording how are they interacting with each other at that exact time?

have they ruled out a burner phone?

 

[Cassie P]

When I put my DNA into Ancestry and Gedmatch, I gave consent. Wasn't I also asked when my DNA was first given?

Gedmatch specifically asks permission for your DNA to be in the LE databank. Ancestry does not ask for such a consent because it does not voluntarily work with LE like Gedmatch does? Unless something has changed. Ancestry will respond I think to a court order.

 

[Laura Avery]

When I put my DNA into Ancestry and Gedmatch, I gave consent. Wasn't I also asked when my DNA was first given?

Consent for "FBI and police to use" Ancestry doesn't currently allow police officials to access public DNA . However Gedmatch does with prior consent by the consumer, currently The rights to DNA in the UK at least is private to the owner and you can refuse to give consent. This is also why police collect evidence from discarded rubbish, to get around this issue
I believe however once a match is proven they can get a warrant to get further conclusive evidence.

 

[flakesofsnow]

From AI:
Direct Talk phones, primarily older
Motorola iDEN handsets used on the Nextel network, function as two-way radios, bypassing cell towers entirely to provide direct, off-network communication. Operating on the 900 MHz ISM band, they use Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) technology, offering 10 channels and 15 codes for private or group "walkie-talkie" calls within a 1–3 mile range.

 

[Laura Avery]

have they ruled out a burner phone?

They would have found evidence of something connecting in the close area, if it was connected. And if it wasn't connected it would just be used to record something, so not connected. But then if not connected how would the other person be able to interact?
To be able to interact and connect with each other you need live wifi or data connection.

 

[Warshawski]

Long time lurker here. I haven’t posted in years and apologies if this has already been discussed and I missed it.

What if the front door camera recorded the end of the event, not the beginning?

If the back door was opened first, the visible footage may not show the initial entry at all. It could be capturing a final moment rather than the first. Given the blood evidence at the front entry, many assume she was brought out through that door. If that’s true, the clip everyone focuses on might represent the conclusion of something that had already happened inside, not the start of it.

JMO, MOO, ETC!

I think you’ve made a good point. IMO that person was clearing the exit. I think someone said ‘that person’ knocked on the door ( cancel that if I’m off track, as my mind is all over the place with this awful situation)
However, if so, the only reason I can see for a knock on the door is to alert the inside accomplice that the coast is clear.

 

[Gunther Toody]

Conversations about DNA, gloves and other potentially extraneous evidence are all well and good, but this woman has been gone for over 16 days. If she is still alive, finding her should take precedence over everything.

She is surely not in good health at this point. Once found, there is plenty of time to focus on DNA, it isn't going anywhere. I have to believe the police realize this and are working behind the scenes to locate her.

 

[Laura Avery]

From AI:
Direct Talk phones, primarily older
Motorola iDEN handsets used on the Nextel network, function as two-way radios, bypassing cell towers entirely to provide direct, off-network communication. Operating on the 900 MHz ISM band, they use Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) technology, offering 10 channels and 15 codes for private or group "walkie-talkie" calls within a 1–3 mile range.

Yes i.umdrtstand as my grandpa is a Ham radio operator, and tested frequencies for various reasons. There are still frequency signals that can be located, even by the general public. Police officials are much more sophisticated than our own. I once asked if it's possible for wind technology (wind farms) yo be able to bounce signals across , .this idea apparently is not entirely ruled out yet. So radio or walkie talkies signals are picked up easily and can cause interference with police scanners. It's not a secretive as people think.
Anyway thanks for the chat x

 

[Cassie P]

Conversations about DNA, gloves and other potentially extraneous evidence are all well and good, but this woman has been gone for over 16 days. If she is still alive, finding her should take precedence over everything.

She is surely not in good health at this point. Once found, there is plenty of time to focus on DNA, it isn't going anywhere. I have to believe the police realize this and are working behind the scenes to locate her.

The purpose of the DNA search is to identify a suspect. Once LE has a suspect, they can narrow down their search significantly. And they can interview the suspect to gain information about the whereabouts of NG.

This is the whole point about the DNA and gloves.

 

[Sessiebo]

Conversations about DNA, gloves and other potentially extraneous evidence are all well and good, but this woman has been gone for over 16 days. If she is still alive, finding her should take precedence over everything.

She is surely not in good health at this point. Once found, there is plenty of time to focus on DNA, it isn't going anywhere. I have to believe the police realize this and are working behind the scenes to locate her.

Seems to me that if they find a DNA match, they find the guy who took her therefore they possibly find Nancy.
JMO

 

[H73]

Maybe the garage entrance to the house was closer to a closet, bathroom or her bedroom. She also probably didn't have to deal with stairs. Moo

Safer and easier to go in garage. Front has steps and a flagstone walkway also may not be well lit and maybe several sets of locks to go through. Garage walk is flat , probably better lit and if she's like me I don't lock the entry door inside of the garage.

 

[pulchra73]

Consent for "FBI and police to use" Ancestry doesn't currently allow police officials to access public DNA . However Gedmatch does with prior consent by the consumer, currently The rights to DNA in the UK at least is private to the owner and you can refuse to give consent. This is also why police collect evidence from discarded rubbish, to get around this issue
I believe however once a match is proven they can get a warrant to get further conclusive evidence.

I cant remember what I consented to on GedMatch now. Just looked on ancestry and it was just scientific stuff.