Nancy Guthrie Update: New Timeline for DNA Evidence Emerges
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today host Savannah Guthrie, remains missing 79 days after she disappeared from her home in the Catalina Foothills of Tucson, AZ.
Late last week reports emerged suggesting the FBI received DNA evidence on the case and was set to display its "advanced technology" in testing the sample. The FBI later announced the DNA sample was not, in fact, new.
"There is no new DNA evidence in the Nancy Guthrie case. The FBI requested this material over two months ago," the FBI 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."
New Timeline Emerges for DNA Evidence
Former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer commented on the DNA evidence being handed over to the FBI and suggested the Guthrie family should be "upset" by the nature of how the DNA evidence was investigated.
"The fact that they're saying the FBI has this advanced technology, they would've always had it," she said. "So that should really irk everyone that the sample didn't go there because they would have always had the advanced technology and expertise."
"But knowing that they had that technology, that should really have the Guthrie family and anybody who cares about justice for Nancy Guthrie upset, because that is not tracking at all," she added plainly.
Coffindaffer revealed the DNA evidence could take months to yield a result.
However, fellow former FBI agent Greg Rogers told Parade that the evidence could be processed much faster.
"The FBI lab is the best in the country," Rogers said. "A high priority case like this is prioritized and results can come back in a matter of days. We also have contacts in Mexico that will be utilized to further investigate any solid DNA testing results."
"The FBI lab has certain DNA testing capabilities that most local labs don't, such as nuclear DNA, Y-chromosome DNA, and mitochondrial DNA. Those tests are often used on shed hair fragments which are an issue in the Guthrie case," he continued.
The DNA evidence was initially sent to a private laboratory in Florida by the Pima County Sheriff's Department.
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This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Apr 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 7:00 AM.