Hair Found at Nancy Guthrie’s House Could Finally Catch Her Suspect as the FBI Gives Critical DNA Evidence: ‘We Remain Committed’
When time started to pass without any clear answer in the Nancy Guthrie investigation, it became clear that the one thing that could break the case was the DNA evidence police had recovered from Nancy’s house. Surveillance photos and video of a masked suspect were released, but when that didn’t lead to an identification, the possibilities narrowed.
Now, however, there’s confirmation that the FBI is examining DNA evidence recovered from the scene. Federal investigators are proceeding with samples they received from a private Florida lab that works with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, sources told ABC News in a report published on Thursday, April 16. The DNA evidence could potentially play an important role in narrowing down a suspect, but it’s not an easy or short process, and it’s being analyzed with new technology.
Related: Who are Savannah Guthrie’s siblings?
“There is no new DNA evidence in the Nancy Guthrie case. The FBI requested this material over two months ago,” an FBI official said. “The Pima County Sheriff’s Office sent it to a private lab in Florida. Eleven weeks later, that lab has now transferred an original hair sample to the FBI Laboratory for testing. We remain fully committed to this investigation.”
Law enforcement confirmed that the blood found on the outside of the house matches Nancy’s DNA, but there’s another “mixed” DNA sample that has been recovered from the home. A mixed sample means there’s genetic material from more than one person, which makes it more difficult to narrow down a match, CeCe Moore, chief genetic genealogist at Parabon NanoLabs, told PEOPLE. Moore also said that if the sample contains genetic material from multiple people, it becomes harder to separate each person’s profile.
Chris Nanos, the Pima County Sheriff, has said investigators remain hopeful that this mixed DNA evidence will lead them to “somebody,” but that the process hasn’t been simple or straightforward. “We listen to our lab, and our lab tells us that there’s challenges with it,” Nanos told NBC News in February. At the time he also said he didn’t have a timeline for results, and that it could take “weeks, months or maybe a year.”
This comes after an expert on analyzing criminal behavior patterns Dr. Gary Brucato, said during a recent episode of The Interview Room that the statistics suggest Nancy Guthrie won’t be found alive. “My sense is, this woman passed away during whatever it is that was supposed to happen,” Brucato said. He also shared statistics indicating the suspect (or suspects) is probably male, and the motive was probably financial gain.
“Also based on statistics, I think it’s safe to say that it’s highly improbable that she is alive,” he said. “And also based on statistics, I don’t even believe there is an intact body. I do not believe that somewhere you’re going to find her in one piece,” he added.
Nancy was kidnapped by a masked assailant sometime between the night of January 31 and the early hours of February 1. The reward for information about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is up to $1 million.
