Nancy Guthrie Abduction Update: Family Cleared, DNA Evidence Found, FBI Releases Video

TUCSON, Ariz. — Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said on February 16, 2026, that the family of Nancy Guthrie has been cleared as possible suspects in the 84-year-old’s abduction from her home near Tucson, as the high-profile search entered a third week.

The statement refocuses the inquiry outward while investigators examine evidence gathered since Guthrie was last seen on January 31, 2026, after relatives dropped her off at her residence. Authorities say relatives reported her missing the following day.

Sheriff: Family ‘cleared as possible suspects’

Nanos said Guthrie’s relatives — “all siblings and spouses” — have cooperated with investigators, including providing interviews, access to devices and consent for searches of property.

“To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel,” he said in a statement. “The Guthrie family are victims plain and simple.”

The sheriff’s announcement comes after weeks of online speculation directed at Guthrie’s relatives, including her daughter Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of NBC’s Today show. Nanos, an elected county official, has faced intense national scrutiny over the handling of the case and has repeatedly urged the public to rely on verified information rather than social media rumor campaigns.

What investigators say they have recovered

Authorities described several developments tied to evidence and sightings connected to the case:

• On February 15, 2026, investigators said they had obtained a DNA sample from a glove found near Guthrie’s home that appears to match a glove worn by a masked prowler seen in doorbell footage before the abduction.
• DNA tests confirmed that traces of blood found on her front porch came from Nancy Guthrie, according to officials.
• Video released by law enforcement shows a masked person outside Guthrie’s door on February 1, 2026, the day authorities believe she was taken; the person appeared to have a holstered firearm.

Investigators have not publicly said whether the DNA profile has matched any entries in national or state databases, which are governed by federal standards for the collection and use of forensic identifiers under the Combined DNA Index System. They have also declined to disclose whether they believe more than one person may have been involved in the apparent abduction.

WATCH | FBI releases video of masked person:

FBI releases video showing masked person at Nancy Guthrie’s door

New video released by the FBI shows a masked person who appeared to have a holstered firearm outside Nancy Guthrie’s door on Feb. 1, the day authorities believe she was abducted.

What authorities have said about Guthrie’s condition

Nanos said early in the investigation that Guthrie was extremely limited in her physical mobility and could not have left home without assistance, leading authorities to conclude she was taken against her will. Family members and officials have described her as frail, in need of daily medication, and fitted with a pacemaker.

Given her age and medical profile, investigators say time is a critical factor in the search. The sheriff’s office has asked health-care providers, pharmacies and long-term care facilities in the region to be alert to anyone matching Guthrie’s description, a step consistent with broader missing-person protocols used by law enforcement nationwide.

Ransom notes and communications

Investigators said at least two purported ransom notes have surfaced since Guthrie vanished, initially delivered to news media outlets. Authorities have not disclosed the sums demanded or the specific threats contained in those messages, and they have cautioned that the letters could be hoaxes designed to exploit the family’s public profile.

As of February 17, 2026, there has been no known direct contact between her presumed captors and Guthrie’s family, or with authorities. Officials say the FBI is assisting with the analysis of any communications, consistent with its role in potential kidnapping cases under federal law, including circumstances in which an abduction may cross state or national lines under the Federal Kidnapping Act.

Timeline authorities have released

• January 31, 2026 — Family dropped Guthrie at her home near Tucson after dinner; this is the last confirmed sighting by relatives, according to authorities.
• February 1, 2026 — Relatives reported her missing, and video shows a masked person outside her door; authorities believe this is the day she was abducted.
• February 15, 2026 — Investigators said they obtained a DNA sample from a glove found near her home that appears to match a glove worn by the masked prowler in doorbell footage.
• February 16, 2026 — Sheriff Nanos said Guthrie’s family had been cleared as possible suspects.

Officials have not said whether they have identified a vehicle or specific escape route connected to the suspect, and they have not released a composite sketch or name of any person of interest.

How the search is being run

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is leading the local investigation. Federal authorities have released surveillance video and said DNA has been recovered from a glove found about three kilometres from Guthrie’s home. Such evidence is typically examined for profiles that could be compared against investigative leads, including entries in federal and state databases.

The case has also tested coordination between county law enforcement, federal agents and neighboring jurisdictions in southern Arizona. Officials say search efforts have included canvassing desert and wash areas, reviewing additional surveillance footage from nearby homes and businesses, and processing tips from across the country.

Appeals from the family and the sheriff’s current presumption

Savannah Guthrie, 54, co-anchor of NBC’s Today show, and siblings Camron and Annie Guthrie have posted multiple video messages pleading for their mother’s return and asking for public help. They have urged anyone with information, however minor it may seem, to contact law enforcement rather than sharing unverified details online.

Nanos has said no proof of life has surfaced but added that “there’s not been any proof of death either,” saying his working presumption is that Nancy Guthrie remains alive. He has framed that stance as both an investigative position and a signal to the public that the search remains urgent and active.

As of February 17, 2026, investigators say there has been no direct contact from the presumed captors to Guthrie’s family or to authorities. The sheriff’s office continues to ask residents in the Tucson area to review any home-security footage from late January and early February and to report anything unusual through official tip lines.