Hair Found in Nancy Guthrie's Home Not Linked to Suspect, Sheriff Says
Investigators say a hair sample did not yield a DNA profile, while multiple labs work on a mixed DNA sample from the home of the 84-year-old Tucson woman abducted in February.
Investigators say a hair sample found in the home of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, who was abducted from her Tucson, Arizona residence on February 1, 2026, has not been linked to a suspect. The hair was tested but did not yield a DNA profile, according to the Pima County Sheriff's Office.
"The hair was done... and there was nothing," said Sheriff Chris Nanos about the sample, which was collected from Guthrie's home. The only known piece of biological evidence is a mixed DNA sample that includes as many as four individuals, the sheriff's office reported.
Nanos stated that multiple laboratories across the United States, including the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, and facilities in Kansas, Florida, California and Arizona, are working to analyze the DNA sample. "My understanding is there are at least five, maybe six, labs," the sheriff said.
Investigators believe Guthrie was taken by a masked man captured on her doorbell camera. Sheriff Nanos stated he is unable to determine if the masked man acted alone. "I don't think anybody's here ready to say it's one guy, it's 10 guys," Nanos said.
"Somebody in our community knows something. Call us, tell us, give us that information."
Nanos expressed confidence that the case is solvable and praised Savannah Guthrie, Nancy Guthrie's daughter, for keeping the case in the spotlight through Instagram posts. On February 12, 2026, a tent was placed over the front entrance of Guthrie's home to cover the area where her blood was found, the sheriff's office said.
Updates
The Guthrie family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie's discovery, while the FBI has announced an additional $100,000 reward for conclusive details. Investigators also released surveillance footage from a Nest doorbell camera showing a masked individual wearing gloves and a black Ozark Trail backpack near the property. Furthermore, two conflicting ransom notes have surfaced: one demanding $4 million in bitcoin for her safe release, and a second claiming she perished shortly after her abduction due to a suspected heart issue.
The Guthrie family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie's recovery, while the FBI has pledged an additional $100,000 for conclusive details. Meanwhile, the FBI is searching for a man approximately 5ft 9in to 5ft 10in tall with an average build in connection with the case. Conflicting claims have also emerged regarding ransom notes, with one claiming she is 'safe but scared' pending a $4 million bitcoin payment, while a second note alleges she perished shortly after being taken due to heart issues.
The Guthrie family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie's recovery, and the FBI has announced an additional $100,000 reward for conclusive information. Meanwhile, the FBI is searching for a man approximately 5ft 9in to 5ft 10in tall with an average build in connection with the case. Conflicting ransom notes have surfaced, with one claiming Guthrie is 'safe but scared' demanding $4 million in bitcoin, while a second note alleges she 'perished shortly after she was taken' due to a heart-related issue.
The Guthrie family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie's discovery, while the FBI has announced an additional $100,000 reward for conclusive details. Meanwhile, two men, Carlos Palazuelos and Daniel Maddox, have filed a $3.25 million wrongful arrest lawsuit against Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos and a detective, citing reputational and property damages. Additionally, the FBI released surveillance footage showing a masked individual with a black Ozark Trail backpack near the property, and two conflicting ransom notes have surfaced: one demanding $4 million in bitcoin, and another claiming Guthrie perished shortly after being taken.
