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

[Napoli]

I think the unknown male DNA found in NG's house is the best lead they have atm because it's linked to the crime scene. In saying that, we don't have enough information to determine how important this DNA is as it's dependant on where it was found and what type of sample it is, i.e. hair, skin, blood or other bodily fluids.

If I were LE, i'd be wanting to try and identify the donor by using genetic genealogy on the sample. I'm sort of hoping that they're being quiet about it because they are working on the sample.

Genetic DNA is tricky and we have to hope that the person matches even a 5th cousin in the pool. THEN, a tree has to be built. This is time consuming and cumbersome. You cant just push a button and get a tree. If he matches someone as a son, a first or second cousin, a nephew, then of course , it's easier. But a tree, even a smaller one, would need to be built. The results for this is somewhere down the line, IMO Weeks..at the very best. MOO

 

[Napoli]

Its not over. Can we trust anything this sheifs says or does?

Yes we can. IMO. Plus, listen to what is NOT being said. MOO

 

[Simply Southern]

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)

Great interview.
Moo.. Sheriff should have used the FBI lab !!! Delays in vetting the DNA quality before can be entered into Codis. Most importantly, per the interview… private labs have limits on DNA data bases. The FBI has greater resources, they can use all federal data bases, including border patrol and access to records to connect family in tracking/tracing.

 

[Gunther Toody]

I'm going on the premise that he knows where she is. Whether he has her or not is really neither here nor there. There are obviously other avenues of evidence that need to be explored but the importance of the DNA cannot be overstated.

ETA: IMO, she's been dead since before anyone knew she was missing.

I agree. He surely knows where she is. There are other avenues of evidence that need exploration and I also think at this point it is more a recovery mission, rather than a rescue.

I get the rescue approach LE is using, because one the narrative shifts to recovery...the entire case dynamic shifts, tips dry up, and new evidence unlikely.

 

[Silverstorm]

I feel like the suspect on NG porch was wearing a Columbia Ascenda from walmart. Different versions of all parts of his jacket can be seen in Columbia jackets. Have they said what his exact jacket was?

columbia jacket for men - Walmart Business

columbia jacket for men - Walmart Business

business.walmart.com

 

[No it’s not]

I believe in 2 things.

A. That 2 pounds of beef make a good soup

B. That our FBI is one of the most capable advanced elite law enforcement organizations using cutting edge technology

Things may be vastly different front what they look. They will find their suspect. They will find closure for the family - one way or another. Having said that it is absolutely heartbreaking that an innocent 84 y old woman has to go through all of this. Same goes for her family. Devastation and life changing. And for what? And for what..?

Prayers for Nancy and her family.

-Nin

 

[Silverstorm]

 

[Athos65]

A friend sent this:
https://people.com/nancy-guthrie-search-signal-sniffers-deployed-reports-11907558

Further reports on whether this is being applied would be needed.

 

[cherryleaf]

So his ransom note is all over the TV / World, and not for the first time. In it he talks about what he saw ‘5 days ago’, and what was said to him etc etc. across the border.

He’s scared about being fingered for his 10 year old burglary rap, but seems his not scared about the fate he might suffer at hands of NG’s kidnappers for ratting on them !!

This can’t be genuine, imo.

Good morning, Dropped in to check the thread before work. I agree and do think it’s very suspicious. IMO, I see another “potential” pattern developing with these last few notes received by TMZ. 1.) To my knowledge they seem to only be received on weekdays ( or at least only reported on weekdays) 2.) the author(s) of these last few letters also seems to get or imply irritation when people stop talking about their last latest letter so then they decide to reach out to TMZ and attempt to get another one out there. I do think the FBI is working with TMZ/HL on these responses to the notes.
Another thing, one could argue that it’s suspicious the writer of these notes mentioned a10 year old burglary charge, yet has not said or done anything to leverage that charge potentially being “ erased” with the release of the info. Maybe they have and we just don’t know.
The most recent TMZ letters are just really strange and bizarre to me. Prayers for Nancy and family.

 

[Napoli]

It seems like burglary gone wrong also purposefully minimizes the crime and the severity of punishment.

I am under the impression that LE has NEVER said it is a burglary gone wrong and has said that publicly in a kind of rebuke, the last day or so. IIRC, "a burglary gone wrong" is a theory advanced by commentators on TV, not official LE sources. MOO Please correct me if i am wrong. JMO

 

[snarast]

Genetic DNA is tricky and we have to hope that the person matches even a 5th cousin in the pool. THEN, a tree has to be built. This is time consuming and cumbersome. You cant just push a button and get a tree. If he matches someone as a son, a first or second cousin, a nephew, then of course , it's easier. But a tree, even a smaller one, would need to be built. The results for this is somewhere down the line, IMO Weeks..at the very best. MOO

You can speed it up by having people do it in parallel. And have heuristic algorithms.

 

[Jenesaisquoi]

As far as I recall, imo moo etc, it was mentioned earlier on this thread that FBI won’t pay out of the tipster has a criminal record. I think TMZ tipster is reading these posts. I also think this is why he -presuming a she would be been unalived already - is going via TMZ, due to it being run by a lawyer.

 

[Napoli]

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"

Genealogist here too. Thanks for explaining that to others here. I didnt want to get into centimorgans and countries that dont allow it or , well, you know. People need to understand this is not "push a button" technology.

 

[snarast]

Good morning, Dropped in to check the thread before work. I agree and do think it’s very suspicious. IMO, I see another “potential” pattern developing with these last few notes received by TMZ. 1.) To my knowledge they seem to only be received on weekdays ( or at least only reported on weekdays) 2.) the author(s) of these last few letters also seems to get or imply irritation when people stop talking about their last latest letter so then they decide to reach out to TMZ and attempt to get another one out there. I do think the FBI is working with TMZ/HL on these responses to the notes.
Another thing, one could argue that it’s suspicious the writer of these notes mentioned a10 year old burglary charge, yet has not said or done anything to leverage that charge potentially being “ erased” with the release of the info. Maybe they have and we just don’t know.
The most recent TMZ letters are just really strange and bizarre to me. Prayers for Nancy and family.

Yeah, either that is not true or they are sure she has passed.

 

[SMK777]

I don't hold out much hope for the DNA found on glove on property in her neighborhood. Reason being, lots of gardeners, pool people, HVAC, light construction, etc have gloves and other debris fall out of the beds of pick up trucks all the time. But maybe it was a "fresh" glove and (hopefully) from the perpetrator.

A similar road I drive on you can see gloves and other trash occasionally. Would someone that took the time to hide their identity like they did be so stupid as to haphazardly throw one them out the window having done everything else pretty well? I doubt it... they would keep them on then throw them away (or keep it ) with their other stuff to later discard in a trash bin etc. That's just my take on it.

This case is perplexing in that there are some people on here that think the perpetrator was a buffoon for picking flowers and putting in front of the camera lens... but I don't think they realize that the guy has managed to keep himself from being identified with the best and brightest of investigators on the scene and using every forensic tool imaginable to find him. Sadly for Nancy, he was actually smart in several ways.

Having said that, I still believe there is no perfect crime.. Eventually, he (or they) will be identified and arrested at some point is my firm belief.

Unfortunately I have the same thoughts about the glove. And you're correct; it is definitely hard to imagine someone concealing their identity so carefully only to fling their glove out the window close to the crime scene.

 

[Cryptic]

Apologies if this has been shared, but Brian Entin got info that the FBI has a list of 40 names that they've been taking to local gun stores to see if they've been in to purchase a gun.

This could be overall accurate, but garbled information. There is no need for the FBI to go to gun stores to obtain that information.

Rather, as gun stores are licensed dealers, all gun purchases are recorded electronically*. Thus, the 40 names can be searched against purchase records via computers with out needing to go into the stores.

* Technically there are no gun registries. But... there are records of the mandatory background check from dealers. This check has detailed information about the gun and the buyer. Even if the check reveals that the buyer is not permitted to buy a fire arm, the computer record would show that person "P" tried to buy gun "G" at gun store "GS".

 

[iluvmyelement]

This could be overall accurate, but garbled information. There is no need for the FBI to go to gun stores to obtain that information.

Rather, as gun stores are licensed dealers, all gun purchases are recorded electronically*. Thus, the 40 names can be searched against purchase records via computers with out needing to go into the stores.

* Technically there are no gun registries. But... there are records of the mandatory background check from dealers. This check has detailed information about the gun and the buyer. Even if the check reveals that the buyer is not permitted to buy a fire arm, the computer record would show that person "P" tried to buy gun "G" at gun store "GS".

In addition to the names, they also took 40 photos just in case someone had fake identification - so it sounds like they did visit in person.

 

[snarast]

Unfortunately I have the same thoughts about the glove. And you're correct; it is definitely hard to imagine someone concealing their identity so carefully only to fling their glove out the window close to the crime scene.

The footage of the kidnapper lulling around with the foliage gives me good hope. It just reeks of meth/crank intake. That tends to make people less methodical.

 

[Cassie P]

Is the glove DNA actually connected to this case? That’s my concern. Tying the same “type” of glove that was not from the scene is a stretch for me, unless it also contained Nancy’s DNA (and maybe lantana). If DNA was found on her bedsheets or somewhere in the house that strongly implicated participation in the crime, I’d be more hopeful.

I’m not sure how much LE plays by the opt-in rules of genealogical sites. “Standing” is interesting-if LE got a familial match to the perpetrator and built a tree, then got a warrant for suspect DNA, the family member would be the person whose DNA was matched, possibly without their consent. So they would be the only party aggrieved. Don’t think it falls under fruit from the poisoned tree. This was a Kohberger discussion.

We don't know if the glove is connected to the case or not. That is why they are DNA testing the glove. To rule it in or out as evidence.

I agree a glove found down the road is a bit of a stretch but perhaps it is the only lead they have. Or LE wants us to think that is the only lead they have.

I watched a video posted here with a CeCe Moore interview, she is a long time Genetic Genealogy expert and has her own company working with LE. She made it sound like LE does follow the rules and as a result has no access to the huge DNA data bases, but has a limited data base via some smaller DNA sites.

That said the larger DNA sites do appear to respond to a court order and that is something LE and the Guthrie family should request, on bended knee to the site owners and courts.

Yes a court order would only be obtaining possible DNA from a family member. Unless a criminal has DNA tested which is possible but not probable. So yes the DNA site is going to provide the DNA of a close or distant family member.

In the case of the LE DNA sites, people who upload their DNA there have to sign a consent for the police to use their DNA data. So the family of the criminal would have given consent ahead of time for LE use of their data.

In the case of Ancestry getting a court order, well no one is given an option for consent when you are looking at an order signed by a judge. No consent is necessary. You comply or suffer the consequences.

(I have been doing genetic genealogy for decades now.)

 

[SMK777]

The footage of the kidnapper lulling around with the foliage gives me good hope. It just reeks of meth/crank intake. That tends to make people less methodical.

Well, let's hope so.