TUCSON, Ariz. — Investigators have been unable to derive a DNA profile from a hair sample taken from Nancy Guthrie’s home, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos informed Fox News Digital as the case approaches six months since her disappearance.
“Yes, there was a hair,” Nanos stated. “We thought, ‘OK, we’ll do the DNA first.’ You perform DNA testing before other analyses.” Collaborating with the FBI, the hair sample was sent to a California lab for further DNA testing.
The result came back without DNA evidence. “Does this mean the hair isn’t from the suspect? Only when we have the suspect’s hair can we determine that,” Nanos explained. He mentioned that the hair sample remains preserved for potential future use.
Other forms of analysis might render the sample valuable, but current tests confirmed no DNA presence. “That was confirmed just weeks ago,” the sheriff noted. Nancy Guthrie, mother of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing since February 1, 2026.
Nanos highlighted that DNA investigation includes more than the single hair sample, hinting at a range of evidence under examination. He emphasized that DNA testing is a priority as they work with multiple labs to analyze evidence from the residence.
“Anything we can leverage with DNA is part of this investigation,” stated Nanos. This includes genetic genealogy, a method generating leads from family trees, utilizing advancements in DNA technology. “That’s where my optimism lies — I just know that we’ll resolve this case,” he expressed.
A reward exceeding $1.2 million remains uncollected. “We believe, like the family and Savannah do, that someone knows something. We need them to contact us,” Nanos urged.
Evidence from Guthrie’s Nest doorbell camera captured an individual between 5 feet, 9 inches and 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a medium build, wearing a mask, long sleeves, gloves, and a black Ozark Trail backpack.
The family urges anyone with information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI. An anonymous reward is available for information leading to an arrest, contactable via 520-88-CRIME.