Nancy Guthrie’s Kidnapper’s ‘Distinctive Ring’ Could Be Huge Clue

home Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said testing of DNA recovered from a black glove found near the crime scene did not return any hits when run through the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System, known as CODIS, which contains DNA profiles associated with certain criminal arrests and convictions. “There were no DNA hits in CODIS,” Nanos said, adding that CODIS is “one option of many databases that are available.”
The sheriff’s office has also said DNA recovered from inside Guthrie’s home did not match known profiles in CODIS, and that additional DNA evidence is still being analysed. Authorities have treated the case as an apparent abduction, citing evidence from the scene and footage released by investigators that shows a masked individual at the home shortly before Guthrie was reported missing.

Guthrie was last known to have been at her home late on 31 January, after being dropped off following a family dinner, and was reported missing the next day. Police have described her as a vulnerable adult due to her age and medical needs, including a heart condition that requires daily medication, and have said she has difficulty walking.
The FBI has increased the reward in the case to up to $100,000 for information leading to Guthrie’s location, or to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for her disappearance. In a statement carried by Sky News, FBI Phoenix described the person seen in law-enforcement images and video as “male, approximately 5ft 9in-5ft 10in tall, with an average build,” and said the individual can be seen wearing “a black, 25-liter ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack” in the footage.

Investigators have emphasised that the absence of a CODIS match does not rule out the possibility of identifying the individual linked to the glove, noting that CODIS primarily contains profiles from known offenders and certain arrestees, and does not include DNA from people with no qualifying record. Authorities have indicated they are considering other techniques, including investigative genetic genealogy, while continuing to review evidence and follow up on leads.
The case has drawn intense public attention in the United States because of Savannah Guthrie’s prominence as a co-host of NBC’s “Today.” In the days after her mother disappeared, Guthrie and other family members made public appeals for information and for her safe return. Sky News reported that Savannah Guthrie posted a home video montage of her mother on social media with the caption: “Our lovely mom. We will never give up on her. Thank you for your prayers and hope”.

Sheriff Nanos has said his department and federal partners have been flooded with tips since the disappearance, reflecting both the scale of the public response and the challenge of sorting actionable intelligence from a large volume of information. The FBI has previously reported receiving thousands of tips from the public.
Investigators have also sought to address speculation around the case by publicly clearing members of Guthrie’s immediate family. In a statement, Nanos said: “To be clear…the Guthrie family, to include all siblings and spouses, has been cleared as possible suspects in this case. The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious, and are victims in this case.”

In the same statement, Nanos criticised public speculation, saying: “People are hurting. They are victims.” He added: “We talked to them, we took their phones, we took their computers. I mean, we did everything. We processed their vehicles, we processed their homes.”

Authorities have released video and still images linked to the investigation, including footage showing a masked figure on the porch of Guthrie’s home around the time she was last seen. Investigators have said the figure appears to tamper with the home’s doorbell camera, and they have focused in part on clothing and gear worn by the person as potential leads, including the backpack described by the FBI.

The lack of a DNA hit has pushed investigators to continue building the case through other avenues, including conventional detective work focused on identifying the suspect through items visible in the footage and through purchase records where possible. Reuters reported investigators were tracking purchases of gear such as backpacks and gun holsters and continuing to canvas for information that might place a suspect in the area.

The investigation has also been complicated by false leads and alleged hoaxes. A California man accused of sending a fake ransom demand to the family has been charged in federal court, according to reporting by KVOA. The station reported the man was released under restrictions including electronic monitoring and limits on travel between California and Arizona.

Officials have been careful in public briefings to separate what they say is confirmed evidence from unverified claims circulating online. Investigators have said the DNA results were a disappointment but not an end point, as the case continues to rely on a combination of forensic testing, digital evidence, and public cooperation.

Authorities have urged anyone with information to contact law enforcement, noting that even small details can help narrow the search and corroborate timelines. The sheriff’s office and the FBI have continued to encourage tips as they pursue leads across Tucson and beyond, while the family has repeated public appeals for Guthrie’s safe return.