Expert Believes Bite Flashlight May Hold Key DNA Evidence in Nancy Guthrie Disappearance

Genetic genealogist CeCe Moore says investigators should revisit the Guthrie home to search for saliva traces.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 4:42pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a bite flashlight, its textured metal and glass filling the frame against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.A key piece of evidence in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance case may hold crucial DNA clues.Tucson Today

As the search for Nancy Guthrie continues, DNA expert and genetic genealogist CeCe Moore believes investigators should return to Guthrie's home near Tucson, Arizona to search for more DNA evidence, particularly on the bite flashlight a masked man was seen using in doorbell camera footage from the night she disappeared.

Why it matters

The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, has captivated national attention. Uncovering DNA evidence could be a crucial break in the case and help investigators determine what happened to Guthrie.

The details

Moore said that while crime scene investigators may have already collected numerous DNA samples, they could have missed key evidence like saliva from the bite flashlight the suspect was seen using. She believes this could be a 'hardy' source of the perpetrator's DNA, even if it has been weeks since the incident.

  • Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her home near Tucson, Arizona on February 1, 2026.
  • Doorbell camera footage from that night showed a masked man using what appeared to be a bite flashlight.

The players

CeCe Moore

A DNA expert and genetic genealogist who has provided analysis on the Nancy Guthrie disappearance case.

Nancy Guthrie

The mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie who went missing from her home near Tucson, Arizona on February 1, 2026.

Savannah Guthrie

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

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What they’re saying

“DNA is hardy. So it's certainly possible there is still some DNA there, and in particular, I really do think that saliva is the most likely, and that is because of what appeared to be that bite flashlight in his mouth.”

— CeCe Moore, DNA expert and genetic genealogist

What’s next

Investigators plan to revisit the Guthrie home to search for additional DNA evidence, particularly on the bite flashlight seen in the doorbell camera footage.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of thorough crime scene investigation and the potential value of even small pieces of DNA evidence, which could prove crucial in solving high-profile missing persons cases like the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.