Nancy Guthrie Case: DNA Evidence, Including Hair, Sent to FBI Lab
Michael Foust
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By Michael Foust, Crosswalk.com
Two and a half months after the mother of Savannah Guthrie disappeared, DNA evidence – including hair recovered from the home of Nancy Guthrie – has been sent to the FBI’s lab for advanced analysis, NewsNation reported Thursday.
The move follows earlier testing conducted at a Florida lab used by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, where samples either failed to produce a match in CODIS – the FBI’s national database – or were determined to be “mixed,” meaning they contained genetic material from more than one individual.
Little else is known publicly about the reported evidence. The FBI declined comment, and the Pima County Sheriff's Department said that the laboratory it uses “in Florida continues to share information with the FBI laboratory and other partner labs across the country,” said Angelica Carrillo, spokesperson for the Sheriff's Department, in a statement to AZCentral.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, at her home near Tucson, Ariz., before being reported missing the next day when she failed to attend a gathering with friends to watch a streaming church service.
Doorbell camera footage shows a masked individual approaching Guthrie’s home shortly before she vanished – and at one point interacting directly with the device. Investigators say the person appears to try to disable or obstruct the camera before it goes offline.
That person, whom investigators said likely is a male, has not been identified.
Gary Brucato, a forensic researcher and clinical psychologist, told NewsNation he believes Guthrie likely knew her kidnapper.
“[The person] who did this probably has some passing relationship, at least, with this victim, and that matches some of the comfort level, potentially spending quite a lot of time in the house and things like that that we see on the [home surveillance video],” Brucato said.
Meanwhile, Savannah Guthrie returned to her familiar Today seat this month, thanking fans for their outpouring of support.
“We feel your prayers,” she said, smiling and fighting back tears.
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Disturbing Ransom Emerges in Nancy Guthrie Case as FBI Turns to Genetic Genealogy
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images / NBC / Contributor
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
