DAY 13+ BOMBSHELL: Sheriff Confirms STRANGER DNA Recovered at Nancy Guthrie’s Property – NOT Hers, NOT Family, NOT Close Contacts! Abductor’s Deadly Mistake?!
• DNA being tested: Investigators found DNA at Nancy Guthrie’s Arizona property that doesn’t belong to her or those close to her, officials said. It’s being tested, along with several gloves found as far as 10 miles away from the residence.
• Hunt for evidence: People living within 2 miles of Guthrie’s home have been asked to submit any surveillance footage from about a month before authorities believe the mother of “Today” host Savannah Guthrie was abducted on February 1. The FBI has doubled its reward for information to $100,000.
• Details on suspect emerge: The FBI described the suspect seen in doorbell footage as a 5’9”-5’10” tall male with an average build and wearing an Ozark Trail Hiker backpack.
• Submit your questions: Laura Coates will present a live one-hour special, “The Search For Nancy Guthrie,” on CNN and CNN All Access at 11 p.m. ET. Send us your questions on the case here.
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Do you have questions about the investigation? CNN’s Laura Coates will answer them tonight
Tonight on CNN, Laura Coates will present a live one-hour special, “The Search For Nancy Guthrie.” The special will air on CNN and CNN All Access at 11 p.m. ET.
The special will include fresh reporting from the Tucson, Arizona, crime scene and analysis from former top FBI officials, profilers and forensic analysts.
Coates and her team will also be answering questions about the investigation. You can submit yours in the form below:
TMZ receives third letter claiming to know identity of kidnapper, founder says
From CNN’s Elise Hammond
Harvey Levin, the founder of TMZ, appears on CNN on Friday, February 13, to discuss a new letter sent to the outlet regarding the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.
CNN
Harvey Levin, the founder of TMZ, said the outlet received a third letter from a person claiming to know the identity of who abducted Nancy Guthrie and that they now want the full $100,000 FBI reward in bitcoin.
In the letter, the person told TMZ that they don’t trust the FBI and that is why they are using the outlet as an intermediary, Levin told CNN’s Erin Burnett.
The person said he wants a fraction of a bitcoin worth $50,000 up front and that they would provide “the name of the main individual” and tracking information, Levin said.
“He also says he will not touch the $50,000 until an arrest is made and once that happens, they can then deposit the other $50 (thousand) and he’ll take the money,” Levin said.
The letter also included some “ominous references to Nancy,” Levin said.
Sheriff’s office provides updates on Nancy Guthrie case: Doorbell video, DNA, and 30,000 tips. Here’s the latest
From CNN’s Alaa Elassar
An aerial view of the Nancy Guthrie’s residence on Thursday, February 12, in Tucson, Arizona.
Danielle Joe Main/Anadolu/Getty Images
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos spoke with CNN’s Ed Lavandera Friday, providing new updates on the relentless search for Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing for nearly two weeks.
The heart of Tucson is weighed down by grief and frustration, as a community desperate for answers has seen little clarity on Guthrie’s whereabouts or the direction of the investigation.
Yet despite the uncertainty, authorities say the search is far from over. More than 30,000 tips have poured in from the public, each carefully reviewed and investigated.
“I believe she will be found,” Nanos told CNN. “I believe we are working as hard as we can to do that as fast as we can.”
Here’s the latest on the investigation:
Gloves and DNA discovered and under analysis: Several gloves have been recovered as part of the investigation, with the closest discovered roughly two miles from Nancy Guthrie’s home, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Investigators have also found DNA, though it’s unclear who it belongs to. The department hasn’t said where it was located but confirmed it was from someone outside Guthrie’s close contacts. Evidence needing forensic analysis is being sent to the same out-of-state lab used from the start of the investigation to maintain consistency, the sheriff’s department said. Doorbell camera video provides biggest leads yet: The doorbell camera video from Guthrie’s home recovered by the FBI has given investigators the “biggest leads we’ve had,” Nanos told CNN. After releasing the video showing a man at Guthrie’s front door, authorities received nearly 5,000 calls within hours, Nanos said. Hundreds of investigators are reviewing tips. Joint effort with the FBI: Nanos reaffirmed the Pima County Sheriff’s Department works closely with the FBI. “The FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department are joined at the hips,” he said. He emphasized the long-standing partnership, noting personnel have been assigned to work out of the FBI’s office for years, long before Guthrie’s disappearance. President Donald Trump said Friday, “Progress has been made” since the FBI got involved. Neighbors show support at tribute site: Tucson residents have been visiting a tribute site near Guthrie’s home, leaving flowers, a cherub, and notes of encouragement as they plead for her return. Many described the emotional toll of the 13-day search and expressed hope investigators can bring Guthrie home safe.
CNN’s Elise Hammond, Ed Lavandera, Devon Sayers, Taylor Romine and Kit Maher contributed to this report.
“DNA other than Nancy Guthrie’s” collected from her property, sheriff’s office says
From CNN’s Taylor Romine
Authorities have found “DNA other than Nancy Guthrie’s and those in close contact to her” at her property, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said in an update today.
“Investigators are working to identify who it belongs to,” the update said. “We are not disclosing where that DNA was located.”
They also addressed a pool maintenance crew that was seen at Guthrie’s home today, saying it was “at the request of the Guthrie family.” The general manager of the pool company, Ken Kingan, told CNN it was the first time that the company had serviced Nancy Guthrie’s pool. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department was present at the house during the service.
The sheriff’s department continues to look for video related to the case as well, saying they “will send an additional message to surveillance camera users in the Guthrie neighborhood via the Neighbors App this afternoon.”
CNN’s Daniella Mora contributed to this report
How genetic genealogy could come into play in Guthrie case, according to experts
From CNN’s Elise Hammond
As investigators work to determine who the DNA they have in the Nancy Guthrie case belongs to, they may turn to genetic genealogy to give them a lead, experts said.
The powerful forensic method has spread widely among law enforcement investigators over the past few years.
Criminal investigators can take an unknown DNA profile and upload it to a public database to learn about the person’s family members. Investigators can then use the genealogical information and other evidence to build back through the family tree and identify potential suspects.
Frank Figliuzzi, a former FBI assistant director, said officials likely already ruled out that the DNA belonged to Guthrie’s family members or others who were in the house for other reasons. It also did not pull any matches with known offenders in the FBI’s database, he said.
Now, investigators may be “reaching out to various private sector databases to see if someone might be related to the DNA sample that they have,” he said.
Genetic genealogy has been used successfully in several other high-profile cases, including that of Bryan Kohberger, who pleaded guilty to killing four University of Idaho students in 2022.
Even if the DNA does not ultimately belong to a suspect, it still could provide officials with a critical new lead to find Guthrie, said Bryanna Fox, a former FBI agent.
“That could be a huge break,” she said.
CNN’s Eric Levenson contributed reporting to this post.
Tucson locals leave flowers at tribute site, plead for Nancy Guthrie’s safe return
From CNN’s Alaa Elassar and Norma Galeana
A well-wisher leaves a note and handmade flowers outside of Nancy Guthrie’s home in the Catalina Foothills in Tucson, Arizona, Thursday, February 12.
Rebecca Noble/Reuters
Tucson residents have been visiting the makeshift tribute site in front of the home of Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing for nearly two weeks, leaving flowers, notes and even a cherub as they hope for her safe return.
Eduardo Ortiz, a local resident, said he felt compelled to pay his respects. “We’ve been following the story on the news and we feel bad, our hearts are really, really down,” Ortiz told CNN. “We see (Savannah Guthrie) every day on the ‘Today’ show and she’s part of our family on the show, so we felt that we had to come out here.”
Ortiz expressed anger and sorrow over Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance: “I don’t understand it. Why would somebody want to hurt somebody like that?
“I hope they find her alive, and I hope they find her healthy and they get the guy that did this to her,” he said.
Susie Gray, who lives just four miles from Guthrie’s home, was seen placing a cherub from her garden at the tribute site. “It’s supposed to bring peace and protection,” she told CNN. “I know how Savannah and Nancy have so much faith in their God … I just want them to know how much we all love them and how Tucson has pulled together for them.”
Gray described the pain of watching the case unfold so close to home and said she has “felt so hopeless.”
Residents like Ortiz and Gray continue to plead for answers, their frustration mounting as the search stretches into its 13th day, describing the wait as emotionally devastating.
“We want her home,” Gray said. “I wish we could get some sign of what’s going on, some clue, some big clue.”
Gloves have been found up to 10 miles away, sheriff says
From CNN’s Ed Lavandera, Devon Sayers and Taylor Romine
Gloves have been found up to 10 miles away, sheriff says
00:34
Authorities have found gloves as far as 10 miles away from Nancy Guthrie’s home, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told CNN in an interview.
One glove, which was found 2 miles away from Guthrie’s home, was discovered because of a tip, he said, while another glove was found 10 miles away. No gloves were found at Guthrie’s home, he added.
The gloves were sent for DNA analysis, as well as other DNA found at the residence, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department told CNN.
This post has been updated with additional information.
DNA will be critical clue to run against suspect in Guthrie abduction, analyst says
From CNN’s Elise Hammond
The unknown DNA investigators obtained in the case of Nancy Guthrie’s abduction is going to be helpful when investigators have a suspect, CNN Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller said.
Officials have not been able to determine who the DNA belongs to, according to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos.
This means it didn’t match the “known contributors,” Miller said, meaning the people who have been around or inside Guthrie’s house for other reasons.
It’s also “not somebody who’s been convicted of a felony or arrested on a serious charge where that DNA would be in the FBI system,” Miller said. Investigators would have run it through that database, he said.
In an interview with CNN this afternoon, Nanos said the Pima County Sheriff’s Department wanted to send a glove found by a search team to their lab rather than to the FBI’s. The sheriff’s department’s lab already has DNA from Guthrie, her family, her landscaper and housekeeper, he said.
“Trust me, if we knew who it was, we’d be on it,” Nanos said. “But we do have some DNA, and we’ll continue to work … with the lab on that DNA analysis.”
Moving forward in the investigation, the DNA will be critical in both ruling people out and, when there is a suspect, placing them at Guthrie’s house, according to Miller.
“It’s that clue that you put on the side and you run it against everybody that you can run it against,” Miller said.
Pima County sheriff says he believes Nancy Guthrie will be found
From CNN’s Elise Hammond
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos takes part in an interview with CNN on Friday, February 13.
CNN
As the search for Nancy Guthrie nears the two-week mark, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said he believes “she will be found.”
“I believe we are working as hard as we can to do that as fast as we can,” Nanos told CNN.
Law enforcement from across Arizona as well as federal agents are involved in the investigation, Nanos said. Private companies have also offered their assistance, he said.
Doorbell video has given “biggest leads we’ve had” in the case, sheriff says
From CNN’s Ed Lavandera, Devon Sayers and Taylor Romine
The doorbell camera video from Nancy Guthrie’s home that was recovered by the FBI has given investigators the “biggest leads we’ve had,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told CNN during an interview, and he immediately recognized they “needed that out right away.”
“We had the video for probably about two hours. The FBI brought it to us, and I said we had to get that out,” Nanos said. “We recognized its significance.”
Footage released in Nancy Guthrie case sparked 5,000 tips in hours
From CNN’s Alaa Elassar
The FBI has released new images from a camera at Nancy Guthrie’s house, showing a person who appears to be wearing a mask.
FBI
Authorities investigating the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie say the footage showing a man at the front door of Guthrie’s home prompted an overwhelming response from the public.
“When we put that video out, that photo of that guy in the front doorway, that generated in a matter of hours, almost 5,000 calls,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told CNN’s Ed Lavandera today. Hundreds of investigators are now working to review and follow up on the tips generated by the video’s release, the sheriff said.
He urged the public to continue submitting information, no matter how insignificant it may seem.
“If you have any information, whether it’s from your Ring camera or it’s just you’ve seen something that is of concern to you, please share it with us,” Nanos said. “Don’t dismiss it. Don’t say it’s probably nothing. Let us have it, because this is a puzzle. We have pieces of the puzzle… someone out there knows who that man is.”
Authorities have received over 30,000 tipsin the case so far, Nanos added.
DNA has been found, but authorities not sure who it belongs to, Pima County sheriff says
From CNN’s Ed Lavandera, Devon Sayers and Taylor Romine
DNA has been found, but authorities not sure who it belongs to, sheriff says
00:29
DNA has been found as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, but it’s not clear who it belongs to, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told CNN during an interview today.
He wouldn’t specify where exactly the DNA was found, he said, adding they are continuing to work with the lab.
Sheriff’s Department and FBI “joined at the hips” in effort to find Guthrie, Nanos says
From CNN’s Elise Hammond
Sheriff’s Department and FBI “joined at the hips” in effort to find Guthrie, Nanos says
00:50
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is working as a team with the FBI to find Nancy Guthrie, Sheriff Chris Nanos reaffirmed today.
“The FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department are joined at the hips,” Nanos told CNN’s Ed Lavandera “We’ve done this for not years, decades.”
The FBI was briefed on the case and was involved with the investigation from the beginning, he said.
“We’ve always worked with them. We have people assigned — way before this case — we’ve had people assigned to work at their office, at their building and that’s been for years, and it’s because we have a good working relationship,” Nanos said.
The pushback from the sheriff comes after conflicting reports over the handling of the evidence in the case.
Pool maintenance workers seen at Nancy Guthrie’s home
From CNN’s Alaa Elassar, Leigh Waldman and Devon Sayers
Pool cleaners at Nancy Guthrie’s home
00:26
Pool maintenance workers were at Nancy Guthrie’s house earlier today, nearly two weeks after she was last seen, as law enforcement continues to maintain a presence at the property.
Trucks from Ambiance Pool Service arrived at the residence with equipment that appeared to be used for pool cleaning and maintenance. It was not clear what the company was doing at the home, which has been surrounded by law enforcement officials in recent days.
Aerial footage showed two people in the backyard near the swimming pool for approximately 20 minutes. Authorities with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department were parked in the driveway.
Ambiance Pool Service declined to comment when reached by CNN.
CNN has also reached out to the sheriff’s department for clarification about the activity at the home, but has not yet received a response.
Local flower shop helps Tucson community show support for Guthrie family
From CNN’s Leigh Waldman, Joel Williams and Jay McMichael
President of local flower shop describes why people buy yellow roses for Nancy Guthrie
01:12
A memorial of candles and yellow roses is growing outside of Nancy Guthrie’s home as her community rallies together.
Most of the flowers are coming from a flower shop less than a mile away from where she lives. President of Casa Adobes Flower Shop Matt Biggs says the yellow roses represent hope and support.
An employee works on an arrangement at the Casa Adobes Flower Shop, which is less than a mile from Nancy Guthrie’s home.
CNN
“People want to send a message of hope to the Guthrie family, and this is one way that they can do it without physically being here or physically going over there,” Biggs said.
Biggs describes Tucson as a big little town, where everyone feels connected and touched by Guthrie’s disappearance. He says they’re waiting with bated breath for her to come home.
“Everybody’s scared about this whole thing. It’s still hard to believe what’s happened,” Biggs said. “We’re all hoping that Nancy comes home and that they find her soon.”
People deliver flowers to a makeshift tribute at the entrance to Nancy Guthrie’s residence on Thursday, February 12, in Tucson, Arizona.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Trump says “progress has been made” with FBI involvement in Guthrie investigation
From CNN’s Kit Maher
President Donald Trump talks with reporters outside the White House on Friday in Washington, DC.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
President Donald Trump said Friday that “progress has been made” since the FBI got involved in the investigation of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
Trump said he understands that local law enforcement has jurisdiction but touted the FBI’s role.
“Well, they took it over originally, that was a local case originally,” Trump told reporters as he was leaving the White House for North Carolina. “They didn’t want to let go of it, which is fine; it’s up to them. It’s really up to the community. But ultimately when the FBI got involved, I think, you know progress has been made.”
“Complicated,” Trump added of the situation.
Asked if he believes Mexican cartels or a foreign country is involved in Guthrie’s disappearance, the president said, “You can’t say that yet; it’s a little bit early, but it’s, uh, somebody either knew what they were doing very well or they were rank amateurs. Either way, it’s not a good situation.”
Earlier Friday on Fox News, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “Our hearts break every day that this goes on, and again, the FBI is on the ground wanting to assist in any way that they can.”
Light showers in southern Arizona raise concerns in the search for Nancy Guthrie
From CNN’s Graham Hurley and Taylor Romine
Rainfall pours down along the street near Nancy Guthrie’s home in Catalina Foothills
00:52
As the search for Nancy Guthrie approaches two weeks, a winter weather system brought light rainfall to southwest Arizona and the Tucson area Friday, possibly disrupting evidence for law enforcement searching for new potential leads regarding her disappearance.
Video taken by CNN shows the showers pouring along a street near Guthrie’s home in Catalina Foothills, Arizona.
Environmental conditions like rain, snow or wind can further deteriorate already-vulnerable outdoor crime scenes, according to the National Institute of Justice.
Rainfall totals between a quarter to half an inch were expected today, according to the National Weather Service. A second wave of showers alongside embedded thunderstorms is expected to pass through the area late this morning to the early afternoon.
The FBI plans to continue investigating Guthrie’s disappearance “regardless of weather conditions,” FBI Phoenix Public Affairs Officer Connor Hagan has said.
CNN’s Joel Williams and Leigh Waldman contributed to this post.
Marc Klaas, whose daughter was abducted in 1993, reflects on the Nancy Guthrie case
Marc Klaas’ daughter Polly was abducted from a slumber party in 1993 and her body was later found. Her killer was convicted in 1996 and is still on death row. Klaas has become an advocate who helps families find their missing loved ones and reflects on the Nancy Guthrie case with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.
