Investigators are continuing to “actively” follow up on leads three weeks into the investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie.
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, was last seen at her home near Tucson on January 31 and was reported missing the following day. Authorities say her blood was found on the front porch.
Authorities are appealing for information that could help identify a masked individual seen on surveillance videos outside Nancy Guthrie’s front door the night she vanished.
They have also expressed concern about her health because she needs daily medication.
Here’s what to know about where the investigation stands three weeks on.
Search For Masked Suspect Continues
Last week, the FBI released surveillance videos from Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell camera of an individual wearing a ski mask, long pants, jacket, gloves and handgun holster outside her front door the night she vanished.
The FBI later called the person a suspect and described him as a man about 5 feet, 9 or 10 inches tall with an average build. Authorities said he was carrying a 25-liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” backpack.
The sheriff’s department said on Friday that although investigators continue to seek information “related to the person seen on video, investigators are not ruling out the possibility that more than one person may be involved.”
Investigators also sought surveillance camera footage from residents near Nancy Guthrie’s home. “Neighbors have submitted surveillance video from the area, and investigators are carefully reviewing that footage,” the sheriff’s department said on Friday.
Looking At DNA Evidence
The sheriff’s department said DNA analysis is underway on evidence recovered during the investigation, adding that the process “can be lengthy.”
Earlier this week, authorities said DNA from gloves found a few miles from Nancy Guthrie’s home did not match any entries in CODIS, the FBI’s national database. The FBI has said the gloves appear to match the gloves worn by the masked person seen in the doorbell camera footage.
Investigators also collected DNA from Nancy Guthrie’s property that doesn’t belong to her or those in close contact with her, the sheriff’s department said.
The sheriff’s department previously said investigators were turning to investigative genetic genealogy in a bid to track down the suspect, a process that could take some time to yield results.
Investigators also seized a Range Rover SUV from a restaurant parking lot near Nancy Guthrie’s home. Former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer told Newsweek that investigators will be searching that vehicle for DNA evidence and seeking to match it to other DNA evidence in the case.
Seeking Information From the Public
The sheriff’s department said it is receiving hundreds of calls a day related to the Nancy Guthrie case, but has urged people to only report “actionable tips” to investigators.
“Comments or opinions about the investigation should not be directed to 9-1-1 or the non-emergency line, as those lines must remain available for emergencies and legitimate tips,” the department said.
The department said it has taken at least 32,000 calls since February 1, including at least 23,000 administrative calls. Though it does not track how many calls are related to the Nancy Guthrie case, the number of calls have soared from the same time period last year.
The FBI has received more than 21,000 tips since February 1, the department said.
Several hundred personnel have been assigned to the investigation from various law enforcement agencies to actively review tips, the department said.
Anyone with information has been urged to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), 520-351-4900 or 88-CRIME or visit tips.fbi.gov.
