Nearly four months after Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Arizona home, investigators say they are still processing key evidence, including “mixed” DNA and footage of a masked, armed individual. An ex-FBI special agent says thousands of tips contain possible
It has been nearly four months since Nancy Guthrie walked out of sight near her home in Arizona—and the silence since then has been hard enough for her family.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen at around 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 31, after family members dropped her off at her residence in the Catalina Foothills north of Tucson, Ariz., following dinner. She was reported missing around noon the next day. after she did not show up at a friend’s house to watch an online church service.
Investigators have been focused on leads and evidence, but there has been no public breakthrough. The Pima County sheriff and the FBI have not publicly identified any suspects or a motive. and Sheriff Chris Nanos has said investigators believe they know why Nancy Guthrie’s home was targeted. Public updates have been sparse in recent weeks.
When the case reached 100 days on May 11, Nanos told local station KOLD-TV: “I believe, at some point in time, we will make an arrest on this case.” He added, “We’re not going to give up on it just because it’s been 100 days.”
That determination is echoed by an ex-FBI special agent. Harry Trombitas. who said the lack of updates can be frustrating—especially for the Guthrie family—while investigators keep working. He told Yahoo: “I believe. at some point in time. we will make an arrest on this case.” (This quote was made by Sheriff Chris Nanos to KOLD-TV. not Trombitas.) Trombitas’ point was clearer in his own comments: the public should remain “patient” because “investigators are working day and night on this case.”.
“The frustration is understandable,” Trombitas said, describing what investigators are up against. “There’s been over 50. 000 tips received. and I truly believe the names of the individuals involved are most likely in those tips.” He added. “It’s just a matter of working through them. [Investigators] may already be on to somebody right now.”.
The work, Trombitas explained, is not just about finding names—it’s about building proof. “You have to build a case and think about future prosecution. ” he said. noting that law enforcement can’t simply “go out and arrest someone.” The steps have to be done properly. he said. “to make sure there are no mistakes.”.
At the same time, investigators are dealing with evidence that is detailed but complicated. Authorities have been reviewing doorbell camera footage from outside Nancy Guthrie’s home of a masked individual whom the FBI said was “armed.” They are also reviewing video of a speeding car around the time of her abduction. along with a backpack possibly bought online. Investigators are even examining a damaged utility box. which they believe could be connected to a reported internet outage that occurred around the time Nancy Guthrie disappeared.
More recently, investigators said they were working to process “mixed” DNA, including a hair sample recovered from Nancy Guthrie’s home. “Mixed” DNA means genetic material from more than one person at the scene of her possible abduction.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department initially sent the DNA samples to a private lab in Florida that it routinely works with. Then in April, the DNA samples were sent from the Florida lab to the FBI lab in Quantico, Va., for advanced DNA analysis.
Trombitas said mixed DNA adds friction to the process. “Mixed DNA also is a lot harder to work with.” He also pointed to the timing of where the samples were analyzed. saying: “I wish it would have gone to the FBI lab first.” “Ideally. why not send it to the best DNA lab in the entire world?. And that’s the FBI lab. We’re able to do so much more than some private labs are able to do.”.
A mixed DNA sample, Trombitas said, can take months to be examined. “When you just have one contributor, the amount of time that it takes to process that DNA is a lot less than when you have a mixed sample.”
Still, he believes the case will not remain unsolved. “But, despite the investigation nearing four months, I truly believe that this case will be solved.” He thinks it will likely be solved through a tip that provides the name or names of those involved in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
Trombitas compared it to cases where investigators must wade through huge lists. “I’ve worked cases before where we’ve had thousands of individuals that have been named as suspects. and we literally have to work through each and every one of those names to clear them. either rule them in or rule them out.” He said that process “can take an awful lot of time.”.
He also described how DNA evidence is matched to potential suspects. To obtain DNA from a potential suspect. investigators must conduct surveillance to watch the person discard an item—such as a soda can—and collect it. Investigators could then compare the collected DNA to any potential contributors found in the mixed DNA that’s being analyzed by the FBI.
For anyone with information, investigators are still asking the public to come forward. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department tip line is 520-351-4900, and the FBI tip line is 1-800-CALL-FBI.
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