Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos announced that the Guthrie family is cleared as possible suspects in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.
Investigators also said the FBI expects to upload an unknown male DNA profile developed from a glove found near the scene into the national CODIS database within 24 hours, pending quality control review.
Nanos said the Guthrie family has been “nothing but cooperative” and that they are the victims in this case.
“To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel. The Guthrie family are victims plain and simple… please, I’m begging you the media to honor your profession and report with some sense of compassion and professionalism.”
Officials also said Monday, Feb. 16 that they collected approximately 16 gloves in various areas near the house. Most of them were searchers’ gloves that they discarded in various areas when they searched the vicinity, according to a statement from Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
However, officials said one glove from which the DNA profile was recovered appears to match gloves worn by the subject seen in surveillance video.
Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, was taken from her Catalina Foothills home on Feb. 1, reportedly against her will, as evidenced by her wallet, keys, phone and traces of blood left behind.
As the investigation enters its third week, authorities have not publicly named a suspect, person of interest or suspect vehicle. Surveillance footage has provided a suspect description and prompted thousands of tips.
Footage shows a masked, armed man wearing an Ozark Trail backpack approaching Guthrie’s front door the night she disappeared. Officials believe he is about 5 feet, 9-10 inches tall with an average build. Officials also confirmed Monday that the clothing seen in the video may have been purchased from Walmart but is not exclusively available at Walmart.
Sheriff Nanos said investigators are working on identifying other articles of clothing that was worn by the suspect.
In an interview with AZPM, Nanos said local law enforcement and the FBI have been strongly united throughout the investigation and that accusations that the department has blocked evidence from FBI partners is wrong.
The Feb. 16 email also said that several gloves have been located during the investigation, with the closest gloves found approximately two miles from Guthrie’s home.
Nanos said that the department is waiting for more video from smart security devices after issuing community call-outs to nearby neighbors as well as more information about vehicles that were in the area during the timeline of the disappearance.
“Let us get that and let us put that together, it’s a puzzle, they have a piece of it,” Nanos said.
Law enforcement continues to encourage anyone with tips or information that can bring Nancy home to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI or 88-CRIME.
The FBI announced last week that it is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to Guthrie’s return and the arrest and conviction of those responsible for her disappearance.
“I wish I could tell you in the next hour, we’re going to have somebody arrested or the next week, or the next month, maybe the next year, I don’t know that. What I do know is we are working 24/7…We’re not stopping. We won’t quit. We will find him. We will find her,” Nanos said.
