In the ongoing search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, missing from her home in Arizona's Catalina Foothills since early February, investigators are turning to advanced genetic genealogy techniques reminiscent of those that led to the arrest of Bryan Kohberger in the 2022 Idaho college student murders. The Pima County Sheriff's Office announced on Tuesday, February 17, that while initial DNA testing on a pair of gloves found near Guthrie's residence did not yield a match in the national CODIS database, authorities are now exploring investigative genetic genealogy, or IGG, to generate new leads from the evidence.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the evening of January 31, when her daughter, Annie Guthrie, dropped her off at her home following a family dinner. The next morning, February 1, Guthrie failed to appear for a scheduled virtual church service, prompting her family to report her missing. According to reporting by NBC News, undisclosed DNA evidence was recovered directly from inside Guthrie's home, suggesting she may have been abducted in the early hours of that day. The case has drawn significant attention due to the apparent sophistication of the perpetrator, who was captured on the home's security camera tampering with the device before its removal.
The FBI, assisting local authorities, released black-and-white images and video footage on February 15 showing an individual outside Guthrie's front door. The suspect, described as likely a male between 5 feet 9 inches and 6 feet 10 inches tall with an average build, was wearing a full face mask, gloves, and a black 25-liter 'Ozark Trail Hiker Pack' backpack. In the footage, the person appears to have a gun tucked into his waistband and is seen attempting to shield the camera before dismantling it from the wall beside the front door. "The FBI has and will continue to provide assistance on whatever timeline is provided to us," stated the agency in a release, underscoring their commitment to the investigation.
A critical piece of evidence emerged on February 12, when a pair of gloves was discovered approximately two miles from Guthrie's residence. The Pima County Sheriff's Office confirmed in their February 17 press release that testing on these gloves did not produce a match in the Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS, which electronically compares DNA profiles from crime scenes across the nation. "[It] did not match DNA found at the property," the statement noted. "The DNA found at the property is being analyzed and further testing needs to be done as part of the investigation."
Despite the lack of a CODIS hit, hope lies in the application of IGG, a method defined by the International Society of Genetic Genealogy as "the science of using genetic and genealogical methods to generate leads for law enforcement entities investigating crimes and identifying human remains." This technique gained prominence in the Bryan Kohberger case, where it helped connect DNA from a knife sheath left at the scene of the November 2022 stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students to Kohberger's family lineage. Kohberger, now 31, pleaded guilty to the murders in March 2025 and was sentenced to four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole to avoid the death penalty.
A CNN report from March 2025 detailed how IGG was pivotal in the Kohberger investigation: authorities used the method to link the knife sheath's DNA sample to Kohberger's relatives, and subsequent testing, including on fingernail clippings from one victim, confirmed a statistical match that facilitated his arrest. "Investigators are currently looking into additional investigative genetic genealogy options for DNA evidence to check for matches," the Pima County Sheriff's Office stated, signaling a similar strategy for the Guthrie case. This approach has reportedly prompted the FBI to recruit an investigator from the Kohberger probe to assist in the current search, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The discovery of the gloves has sparked additional searches in the vicinity of Guthrie's home. Authorities collected a total of 16 gloves from various areas during operations in the surrounding Catalina Foothills region. NewsNation Senior National Correspondent Brian Entin reported via X, formerly Twitter, on February 15 that most of these were discarded by searchers themselves. "Most of them were searchers’ gloves that they discarded in various areas when they searched the vicinity," Entin wrote. However, the glove with the recoverable DNA profile stands out: "The one with the DNA profile recovered is different and appears to match the gloves of the subject in the surveillance video."
As the investigation enters its third week, the Guthrie family remains in the public eye, with daughter Annie's account of the last sighting providing a poignant backdrop. The Catalina Foothills community, known for its upscale residences and scenic desert landscapes, has rallied in support, though the case's details have heightened concerns about home invasions in the area. Pima County officials have urged residents to review any security footage from late January and early February, emphasizing the suspect's distinctive backpack as a potential identifier.
The use of IGG in this case highlights the evolving role of forensic science in cold leads and abductions. While CODIS relies on existing criminal DNA profiles, IGG taps into public genealogy databases, often built from consumer DNA kits, to trace familial connections. Experts note that this method, while effective, raises privacy concerns among genealogists and ethicists, though it has proven invaluable in high-profile cases like the Golden State Killer investigation years earlier.
FBI Director Kash Patel's release of the suspect's images marks a rare public appeal for tips, with the agency setting up a dedicated tipline for information related to the Guthrie disappearance. "We are asking anyone with information about this individual or the circumstances surrounding Nancy Guthrie's disappearance to come forward," Patel said in a statement accompanying the footage. The description of the suspect's height range—5'9" to 6'10"—accounts for potential distortions in the black-and-white video, officials explained.
Broader implications of the case extend to law enforcement's collaboration across agencies. The involvement of the FBI not only in evidence analysis but also in recruiting specialists from past successes like Kohberger's underscores a national push to apply cutting-edge tools to local mysteries. For the Guthrie family, each development brings a mix of hope and anguish; Annie Guthrie has publicly expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support while pleading for her mother's safe return.
Investigators continue to comb through digital and physical evidence, including the dismantled security camera recovered from the scene. While no suspects have been named, the DNA from the property—separate from the gloves—remains a focal point for further testing. The Pima County Sheriff's Office has indicated that IGG results could take weeks, depending on database matches and subsequent verification.
As the search persists amid Arizona's vast terrain, the case serves as a stark reminder of vulnerabilities even in secure neighborhoods. Community vigils have been held in Catalina Foothills, with residents sharing stories of increased home security measures. The integration of genetic genealogy into the probe offers a glimmer of progress, mirroring breakthroughs that have resolved long-standing cases nationwide.
Looking ahead, authorities anticipate that IGG could provide the breakthrough needed to locate Nancy Guthrie, whether alive or to bring closure to her family. The FBI's ongoing assistance ensures resources are not a barrier, and tips from the public could accelerate developments. For now, the investigation presses on, driven by the determination to uncover the truth behind the February 1 abduction.