Nancy Guthrie update: Distressing details out as ‘rare’ hair DNA testing result revealed

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos reported that DNA analysis of hair found at Nancy Guthrie's home did not yield any suspects.

Published on: Jul 31, 2026, 18:35:54 IST

By Shweta Kukreti

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DNA analysis of hair collected from Nancy Guthrie's residence has not brought investigators any closer to identifying a suspect in her disappearance, according to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos.

Nancy Guthrie update: DNA analysis of hair from Nancy Guthrie's home has failed to identify a suspect in her disappearance, according to Sheriff Chris Nanos. (Savannah Guthrie/Facebook)

The Sheriff informed ABC News regarding the disappointing forensic progress in the case concerning Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, who has been unaccounted for since early February. “The hair was done... and there was nothing,” he stated.

DNA of hair ‘it does not point to a suspect,’ says FBI's Phoenix office

The FBI's Phoenix office corroborated the information in a statement to NBC News, saying that "all hair had been resolved and it does not point to a suspect" in the ongoing probe. They chose not to provide additional comments.

Nanos remarked that discovering DNA on hair is "extremely rare." He further explained to NBC News, “Hair doesn’t produce DNA like touch DNA or bodily fluids."

Also Read: Nancy Guthrie probe update: Man seeks $2.5 million claim against Pima County, here's why

Nancy Guthrie update: Several DNA samples obtained from her home

Meanwhile, a mixed DNA sample obtained from Guthrie's residence in the Tucson area consists of genetic material from as many as four individuals, as reported by Nanos to ABC. Laboratories across several states, including the FBI lab located in Quantico, Virginia, are engaged in the process of identifying the contributors, although it is still uncertain if this will be achievable.

“My understanding is there are at least five, maybe six, labs across the country that are working on all of this,” the Sheriff explained. “We have some of the brightest minds in the nation, if not the world, working on this.”o

No suspect named as probe continues

The number of suspects involved in Guthrie's disappearance on February 1 remains uncertain. A doorbell camera recorded a figure wearing a mask and carrying a backpack at her doorstep just hours before she was reported missing, along with another masked individual on a previous day; however, additional evidence has proven difficult to obtain.

“I don’t think anybody’s here ready to say it’s one guy, it’s 10 guys,” Nanos mentioned. “Did he have help? Could have.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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