Investigators Turn to Genetic Genealogy in Search for Missing Nancy Guthrie

The method that helped catch the University of Idaho killer is now being used in the case of the 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Investigators working on the case of missing Nancy Guthrie are turning to the investigative method of genetic genealogy, which helped law enforcement identify Bryan Kohberger as the suspect in the slayings of four University of Idaho students in 2022. The Pima County Sheriff's Department said DNA from gloves found near Guthrie's home did not match any entries in the national CODIS database, leading them to explore genetic genealogy databases to try and identify a suspect.

Why it matters

The search for Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, has entered a third week after she was reported missing from her home near Tucson on February 1. Authorities believe she was taken against her will, and her blood was found on the porch. Genetic genealogy has emerged as a powerful tool for identifying suspects who leave DNA at a crime scene, as seen in the Golden State Killer case and the University of Idaho murders.

The details

Investigators are looking to feed the DNA evidence in Guthrie's case, including DNA recovered from her property, into "genetic genealogy" databases. This process, known as investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), involves uploading DNA variations to genealogy databases to look for possible relatives of the person whose DNA was found at the scene. In the Kohberger case, IGG initially led investigators to him after DNA from a knife sheath was matched to DNA from Kohberger's father.

  • Nancy Guthrie was reported missing from her home near Tucson on February 1, 2026.
  • On February 16, 2026, authorities released a description of a man caught on surveillance footage outside Guthrie's front door the night she disappeared.

The players

Nancy Guthrie

The 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie who was reported missing from her home near Tucson on February 1, 2026.

Savannah Guthrie

The host of the Today show and the daughter of missing woman Nancy Guthrie.

Bryan Kohberger

The suspect who was identified using investigative genetic genealogy in the 2022 slayings of four University of Idaho students.

Chris Nanos

The Pima County Sheriff who said investigators are looking into additional investigative genetic genealogy options for DNA evidence in the Nancy Guthrie case.

CeCe Moore

An expert on genetic genealogy who has said IGG will lead law enforcement to identify a suspect in the Nancy Guthrie case, though it could take time.

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What they’re saying

“The DNA that was submitted to CODIS was from the set of gloves found 2 miles away. It did not trigger a match in the national CODIS database and did not match DNA found at the property. The DNA found at the property is being analyzed and further testing needs to be done as part of the investigation. Investigators are currently looking into additional investigative genetic genealogy options for DNA evidence to check for matches. CODIS is one option of many databases that are available.”

— Pima County Sheriff's Department

“Now we start with genealogy and some of the partial DNA we have at the home. To me, that's more critical than any glove I found 2 miles away.”

— Chris Nanos, Pima County Sheriff (NBC News)

“If someone leaves their DNA behind at a crime scene, then they absolutely can and eventually will be identified through investigative genetic genealogy. What is going to determine how long that takes is what population group that person is from. So if their ancestry is from Latin America and they have recent immigrant ancestors, it'll be much more difficult to identify that individual. So it could take a lot longer.”

— CeCe Moore, Chief Genetic Genealogist, Parabon NanoLabs (NewsNation)

“We still have hope and we still believe. And I wanted to say to whoever has her or knows where she is that it's never too late. And you're not lost or alone. And it is never too late to do the right thing. And we are here. And we believe in the essential goodness of every human being, that it's never too late.”

— Savannah Guthrie (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the use of investigative genetic genealogy in the search for Nancy Guthrie.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing use of investigative genetic genealogy as a powerful tool for law enforcement to identify suspects, even in cases where traditional DNA databases do not yield results. However, the process can be time-consuming, especially for individuals with more diverse ancestral backgrounds. The search for Nancy Guthrie continues, with her family and the community holding out hope that this method will help bring her home.