Nancy Guthrie case: DNA on glove traced to restaurant worker, ruled unrelated

A breakthrough in the ongoing search for missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie has cleared up one mystery, though her disappearance remains unsolved. Authorities traced DNA on a glove found near her Tucson, Arizona home to a local restaurant worker with no connection to the case. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos shared this update, offering a mix of relief and continued urgency for the family of the Today show co-host’s mother.

Nancy Guthrie vanished from her home in the early morning hours of February 1, 2026, after being taken against her will, according to police. She was last seen around 9:48 p.m. on January 31. Chilling Nest surveillance footage released on February 10 showed an armed, masked assailant at her front door, wearing gloves and disconnecting the doorbell camera. The shocking images fueled public concern and tips to investigators.

DNA clears key evidence

According to People, on February 15, searchers discovered a glove about two miles from Nancy Guthrie’s residence along a dirt path, resembling those in the video. Authorities collected several gloves from the area, but focused on this one with promising DNA.

According to a new development, as reported by People magazine, in an interview with KVOA, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos revealed the match. “There was some talk and discussion that it was police officers out in the field just discarding [the gloves], that is so far from the truth,” Nanos told. “We knew that at that time, we believed wholeheartedly that those gloves belonged to a restaurant, and guess what? The owner of the glove, we found working at a restaurant across the street,” he added. “It has nothing to do with the case,” Nanos concluded.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department later posted on X on March 4, confirming that the individual is "not part of this investigation."

Pima County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson confirmed the details in a statement to CBS News. “Sheriff [Chris] Nanos stated in a recent interview that the black gloves found approximately 2 miles away from Nancy Guthrie’s home were traced back via DNA analysis to a person who works at a restaurant in the area. That person is not considered part of this investigation,” the spokesperson said, as reported by People magazine. Lab analysis continues on other DNA evidence from additional gloves sent to a Florida facility.

Search presses on

The FBI earlier noted the glove “appears to match” the suspect’s from surveillance, but full tests were pending. No matches emerged in national databases like CODIS. As the case nears the one-month mark, Savannah Guthrie and her family have raised the reward to USD 1 million for information leading to Nancy’s safe return. Sheriff Nanos remains optimistic. “I believe the investigators are making progress,” he said in an NBC interview. “We have gathered a wealth of intelligence and leads, and now it’s time to take action.”

Despite this resolution, the hunt for Nancy Guthrie intensifies with daily tips pouring in. Her loved ones cling to hope amid this time of darkness.