FBI agents have unearthed new DNA evidence that could be pivotal in the case of Nancy Guthrie’s abduction, following an extensive investigation at her residence in Arizona.
According to sources who spoke with ABC News on Thursday, the DNA samples have been sent to a specialized lab in Florida for further analysis.
NewsNation reports that among the evidence collected are strands of hair found inside Nancy’s Tucson home, which will be examined to aid the investigation.
Investigators are deploying advanced technology to scrutinize the samples, hoping to identify any suspect linked to the February 1 disappearance of the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has previously noted that the DNA obtained from Nancy’s home consists of multiple contributors, adding complexity to the analysis.
Sources have disclosed that Sheriff Chris Nanos informed a local neighborhood watch group that it might take up to six months to fully identify the source of the DNA samples.
Nanos, who has gotten a lot of pushback for how he and his department have handled the case, said that five other labs around the US are working on Nancy’s case.
The names of the facilities, what their roles are, and if there are additional DNA samples that are relevant to the case remain unclear, per the outlet.
FBI agents investigating the abduction of Nancy Guthrie have discovered ‘potentially critical’ new DNA at her Arizona home
A masked person is seen on Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell footage the morning of her disappearance on February 1
Nancy’s puzzling disappearance quickly captivated the world, as she has not been seen or heard from since the evening of January 31.
The ongoing investigation, which includes about two dozen Pima County and FBI investigators, has looked into a series of blackmail messages sent to the family and to media outlets demanding money in bitcoin in return for Nancy.
None of the ransoms were ever paid as the Guthrie family demanded that they proof of life, but never got it.
Authorities and the family also could not verify the authenticity of the ransom notes, despite their willingness to pay.
Over the course of the investigation, only a few people have been taken in for questioning. No one has been arrested.
Various pieces of evidence have also been found at the home and in the surrounding area, including drops of blood on Nancy’s front porch, a torn-down doorbell camera, and various gloves.
Surveillance footage also captured a masked person outside her front door, appearing to tamper with the doorbell camera before it was snatched off.
Her daughter Savannah has since made her way back to New York City and is back on-air at the Today show.
Pieces of hair found inside Nancy’s Tucson home (pictured) are among the new evidence being tested, according to NewsNation
Nancy’s puzzling disappearance quickly captivated the world, as she has not been seen or heard from since the evening of January 31
All eyes have been on the TV personality as she continues to fight for answers about what happened to her mother.
A rumor quickly spread on Wednesday after social media users claimed to have seen Savannah disappear from the show halfway through a chat with actress Anne Hathaway.
Given the abduction of her mother, many speculated she may have received an update and had to step away.
But the rumor was entirely false, with Savannah back on air 20 minutes later for a cooking segment.
An industry source told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s not unusual for a host to tease an upcoming segment at any point, and for another host to do the interview.’
But the sudden switch spawned an avalanche of speculation.
‘Maybe she got a call and was going to leave after the last set?’ one X user wrote.
A rumor quickly spread on Wednesday after social media users claimed to have seen Savannah disappear from the show halfway through a chat with actress Anne Hathaway
Others saw the occurrence as ‘odd’ as well.
The rumors gained traction thanks to a widely viewed post from one X account, the Crimewives Club. The profile regularly shares updates for ongoing investigations.
Savannah made her return to the Today set last week. She stepped away during the initial months of the search.
‘It’s good to be back home,’ she told viewers at the outset of her April 6 return.
Sources told Variety a few days before that the Today team was planning to ‘play it by ear’ for Savannah’s return, at least initially.
