FBI Turns to Genetic Genealogy in Search for Nancy Guthrie’s Kidnapper

TUCSON, Ariz. — Investigators are exploring the use of investigative genetic genealogy – a forensic tool that helped solve the Golden State Killer and University of Idaho murders – in the case of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “TODAY” co-host Savannah Guthrie, who has been missing since February 1, 2026.

The Case So Far

Nearly three weeks have passed since Guthrie was reportedly abducted from her Tucson home, and authorities have yet to name a suspect or person of interest. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has cleared the Guthrie family as potential suspects, according to Sheriff Chris Nanos CBS News.

DNA evidence collected at Guthrie’s home is a mix of genetic material, and some of it does not belong to Guthrie, her family, or anyone who works at the residence. Authorities hope to isolate the suspect’s DNA for comparison against databases.

Challenges with DNA Analysis

The lab analyzing the DNA samples has reported “challenges” with the sample, though officials have not elaborated on the specific issues ABC News. These challenges may relate to the proportion of victim DNA in the sample, with experts noting that a high percentage of Guthrie’s DNA could develop it challenging to isolate and identify a suspect’s genetic contribution CBS News.

A DNA profile from a set of gloves found approximately two miles from Guthrie’s house did not match any entries in the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) or DNA evidence found at her property ABC News.

Investigative Genetic Genealogy: A Potential Breakthrough

Investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) involves creating a digitized DNA profile from unidentified evidence and comparing it to ancestry databases to find relatives, build family trees, and narrow down potential suspects. This technique has been instrumental in solving cold cases, including identifying both victims and perpetrators CBS News.

Genetic genealogist CeCe Moore believes IGG could be key to identifying Guthrie’s kidnapper, stating that if other investigative avenues fail, “investigative genetic genealogy definitely will” provide a lead ABC News.

Limitations and Future Steps

While IGG is promising, investigators face limitations. Major ancestry companies like Ancestry DNA and 23andMe restrict law enforcement access to their databases to protect user privacy. Investigators currently rely on smaller, opt-in databases like GEDMatch and FamilyTreeDNA The Independent.

The success of IGG also depends on the suspect’s ancestry. Individuals with deep roots in the U.S. And primarily Northwest European ancestry are more likely to be identified quickly due to their overrepresentation in existing databases. Those with recent immigrant ancestry or born outside the U.S. May accept longer to identify ABC News.

Authorities are continuing to analyze the biological evidence and are hopeful that advancements in DNA technology will allow them to obtain a usable profile for genetic genealogy or CODIS comparison.