Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, remains missing in Arizona as investigators continue searching for the retired teacher who disappeared north of Tucson in late January.
Background
Guthrie was last seen on January 31, after having dinner at her daughter Annie Guthrie's residence. Family members dropped Nancy off at her home north of Tucson and reported her missing the following day when she failed to show up at another friend's home for an online church service. The disappearance prompted an extensive search operation involving local law enforcement and the FBI.
Investigators have pursued several leads in the weeks since Guthrie vanished, including at least two purported ransom notes sent to media outlets demanding millions in Bitcoin. The deadlines for those ransom notes have passed without incident. Guthrie's family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to her recovery, which supplements the FBI's existing $100,000 reward.
The Investigation
The latest development involves a glove found approximately two miles from Nancy Guthrie's home. The discovery generated significant media attention because it at least resembled gloves worn by a suspect captured on Guthrie's doorbell camera the night she vanished. Investigators collected DNA from the glove and, finding no match in criminal databases, employed genetic genealogy techniques to identify the owner.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed that investigators traced the glove to a restaurant employee in the area where it was found. After interviewing the employee, authorities determined they have "nothing to do with the case."
According to reports, the glove was one of approximately 16 gloves collected by investigators during searches of areas as far away as two miles from the Guthrie home. However, the FBI noted that most of those gloves had been carelessly discarded along the roadside by searchers in the area, rather than being connected to the investigation.
Key Takeaways
- A glove found two miles from Nancy Guthrie's home has been traced to a restaurant employee with no connection to the case
- Investigators used genetic genealogy to identify the glove's owner after DNA failed to match any criminal database entries
- The glove resembled those worn by a suspect seen on Guthrie's doorbell camera the night she disappeared
- About 16 gloves were collected during the search, most discarded by searchers rather than relevant to the investigation
- Nancy Guthrie was last seen January 31 after being dropped off at her home north of Tucson
- Family has offered a $1 million reward; FBI is offering $100,000
What's Next
Investigators continue searching for Nancy Guthrie as the case remains active. The Pima County Sheriff's Office and FBI are pursuing additional leads while the family awaits any information about the missing 84-year-old. Anyone with information regarding Nancy Guthrie's whereabouts is urged to contact local law enforcement or the FBI.