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Nancy Guthrie probe: Top FBI official gives key update on new ‘critical DNA’ found claims
The FBI asserts that claims of new DNA evidence in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance are false.
As the search for Nancy Guthrie continues, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has intervened to eliminate confusion regarding reports of newly found DNA evidence, asserting that the claims being disseminated are not “new”.
On April 16, 2026, ABC News announced on X that the federal investigative agency "received and is now analyzing potentially critical DNA recovered from the Tucson, Arizona, home of Nancy Guthrie," citing the sources acquainted with the probe.
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Nancy Guthrie update: Top FBI advisor gives major update on DNA evidence
In response to the announcement, Ben Williamson, the Assistant Director for Public Affairs at the FBI, stated, "Still receiving inquiries on this: this is not new evidence or information. FBI asked to test this DNA 2 months ago with the same technology we’ve always had - when the local Sheriff instead sent it to a private lab. Any further developments we will share as soon as appropriate.”
Earlier, DNA samples either failed to yield a match in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), which is the FBI’s database of criminal offenders, or were determined to be “mixed” with the DNA of another individual.
Nancy, the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie, the anchor of NBC’s ‘Today’ show, was reported missing on February 1, 2026, after her family members checked on her due to her absence from a church service. Authorities stated that she was likely kidnapped in the early morning hours, as her pacemaker lost connection with her phone around 2:30 AM, suggesting that the device was out of range.
More than two and a half months have passed since the investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance commenced, yet no suspects have been identified thus far, and the search continues.
DNA analysis may solve the Nancy Guthrie case, says ex-CIA officer
DNA testing could play a crucial role in the investigation, stated Tracy Walder, a former CIA officer and FBI Special Agent, during her appearance on "Elizabeth Vargas Reports" on Friday.
“We need this information to be able to rule people out or rule people in, in this case. So, in a case like this, where we really actually don’t have a lot of digital forensic evidence, which obviously the FBI is very good at, really, this becomes very, very important,” Walder told NewsNation.
“We have a clear lack of video forensic evidence, as we have seen, as well as really phone and those kinds of forensic evidence, and so I think in this case, there’s no question that that hair is going to be important in terms of ruling whomever that is in or out, and the FBI is going to probably have to investigate if they can get a hook on who it is,” she added.
