Genetic Genealogy Aids Search for Missing Arizona Woman

Investigators hope DNA evidence can help find Nancy Guthrie, 84, who disappeared in January.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Investigators in Arizona are hoping that DNA found in and around Nancy Guthrie's house in Tucson could lead them to a suspect in her disappearance. Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, was last seen on Jan. 31. While the federal CODIS database has not returned a match for the DNA samples, authorities are now looking into additional investigative genetic genealogy options to check for matches.

Why it matters

The use of forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) has helped crack high-profile cold cases in recent years, ushering in a "new era in crime solving." This technique, which incorporates public genealogy websites with DNA analysis, could be crucial in finding out what happened to Nancy Guthrie.

The details

FIGG relies on publicly available databases like GEDmatch, where people share their raw DNA files in hopes of connecting with relatives. Even a partial DNA match from a crime scene can help genealogists "reverse-engineer a family tree" to identify potential suspects. Investigators then use public records to further narrow down the list of individuals. While this process can be time-consuming, it has proven effective in cases like the Golden State Killer and the Bryan Kohberger murders in Idaho.

  • Nancy Guthrie was last seen on January 31, 2026.
  • Investigators are currently looking into additional FIGG options for the DNA evidence.

The players

Nancy Guthrie

An 84-year-old woman who went missing from her home in Tucson, Arizona on January 31, 2026. She is the mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie.

Savannah Guthrie

The co-host of the Today show and Nancy Guthrie's daughter.

Pima County Sheriff's Department

The law enforcement agency investigating Nancy Guthrie's disappearance.

Kathleen Corrado

The executive director of the Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute at Syracuse University.

Kelly Knight

A professor of forensic science at George Mason University who formerly worked in state forensic labs.

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What they’re saying

“The most obvious one that was recently used was the Bryan Kohberger case in Idaho, where he killed four college students. That case showed FIGG can be used in active investigations.”

— Kathleen Corrado, Executive Director, Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute at Syracuse University

“One important thing for the public to understand is that this is not law enforcement going into the direct-to-consumer databases that everybody is buying to get their DNA tested. This is not a direct search of those databases.”

— Kelly Knight, Professor of Forensic Science, George Mason University

What’s next

Investigators will continue to analyze the DNA evidence found around Nancy Guthrie's home and use FIGG techniques to try and identify a suspect in her disappearance.

The takeaway

The use of forensic investigative genetic genealogy has become a powerful tool for law enforcement in solving complex cases, even when traditional DNA databases like CODIS come up empty. However, the technique raises ethical concerns around privacy and the disproportionate representation of certain populations in these databases.