New DNA Tool Might Unlock Nancy Guthrie Case

Scientists are developing a fresh type of DNA test that could finally help locate the missing 84‑year‑old Nancy Guthrie.
The DNA extracted from her Tucson home is a tangled mix of many people’s cells, making it difficult to read. A laboratory reports that the sample is so complex it could take months—or even a year—to analyze properly.

Genetic expert CeCe Moore says teams are racing to make the test faster and smarter. She believes new technology could separate each person’s DNA even when it is tiny and mixed with others, though she warns that a very small amount of suspect DNA might still be too hard to spot.

• Nancy was last seen on January 31 and reported missing the next day.
• Police found a few drops of her blood on the porch, hinting she might have been taken.
• A camera captured a masked man outside her door that night, but no suspect has been named.
• Moore hopes investigators will find another location where Nancy was held—or a vehicle she traveled in—that could hold clearer DNA evidence from the perpetrator.
• If Nancy’s body is ever found, it would provide another chance to collect DNA.

The sheriff notes that labs are improving quickly and that progress could come soon, even if it takes a year. Family members, including TV host Savannah Guthrie, thank everyone who has offered support and prayers.