Investigators in Tucson have begun using investigative genetic genealogy after DNA evidence in the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie did not yield matches in CODIS. DNA from gloves found about two miles from Guthrie’s home also did not match other DNA recovered at the property. Authorities have cleared Guthrie’s immediate family as suspects; labs are working to extract usable profiles while investigators consider commercial genealogy databases and other leads. Experts say genealogical searches can succeed if there is sufficient or enhancable DNA, but the process can take time and raises consent and privacy questions.
Investigators Turn to Genetic Genealogy After DNA Hits Stall in Nancy Guthrie Disappearance
In an aerial view, a Pima County sheriff's deputy keeps guard outside of Nancy Guthrie's residence on Feb. 15, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona. / Credit: Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Investigators probing the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie in Tucson, Arizona, have turned to investigative genetic genealogy as they push to extract more investigative value from DNA recovered during the search for the mother of "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie.
The technique—combining advanced DNA analysis with traditional genealogical research—has helped solve several high-profile cold cases in recent years, including the identification of the so-called Golden State Killer and the suspect in the murders of four college students in Idaho.
What Investigators Have Found So Far
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department says a DNA profile developed from a pair of gloves found roughly two miles from Guthrie’s home did not match any entries in the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Officials also said the gloves’ DNA did not match other DNA recovered at Guthrie’s property.
Authorities have cleared Savannah Guthrie, two of her siblings and their spouses as suspects. But investigators reported that biological material collected at the home includes DNA that does not belong to Nancy Guthrie or to people in close contact with her. Forensic testing is ongoing, and officials cautioned the laboratory work can be lengthy.
Bryan Kohberger appears at his sentencing hearing July 23, 2025, in Boise, Idaho. / Credit: AP Photo/Kyle Green, Pool
Why Genetic Genealogy Is Now Being Considered
When a DNA profile yields no match in law enforcement databases like CODIS, investigators may turn to investigative genetic genealogy. That approach searches commercial and public genealogy databases for distant relatives, builds family trees from those matches, and uses traditional genealogical research to narrow potential suspects.
"You're throwing a wide net — you're looking for cousins," said Emanuel Katranakis, former deputy chief and longtime head of the NYPD's Forensics Investigations Division.
Federal and local sources told CBS News that investigators are reviewing commercial genealogy services such as GEDmatch Pro and FamilyTreeDNA (which both have opt-in systems for law enforcement matching). The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed investigative genetic genealogy was among the options being explored.
Technical Limits: Sample Quality Matters
Experts stress that success with genetic genealogy depends on the quality and quantity of DNA available. Suzanna Ryan, director of Pure Gold Forensics, said some samples are too degraded or too small to allow the specialized sequencing needed for genealogical matching. In other cases, laboratory techniques can enhance low-level samples, but that work takes additional time and resources.
Labs prefer single-source profiles—blood or semen, for example—but can sometimes work with mixtures if the suspected perpetrator is the dominant contributor (for example, an 80/20 mix). When the potential perpetrator is the minor contributor, genealogical methods are usually not feasible.
Joseph James DeAngelo sits in court during victim impact statements Aug. 20, 2020, in Sacramento, California. / Credit: Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, Pool
Precedents And Privacy Concerns
Investigative genetic genealogy has produced major breakthroughs: the Golden State Killer was identified in 2018 after investigators used a public genealogy database to find distant relatives, then confirmed the suspect’s identity through discarded DNA. In Idaho, genealogy leads contributed to the investigation that ultimately identified Bryan Kohberger in the killing of four college students.
These successes have also sparked debate about privacy and consent. Two platforms commonly used by law enforcement—GEDmatch Pro and FamilyTreeDNA—allow users to opt in or out of matches for law enforcement purposes. Experts say transparent user consent and ethical guidelines are critical to balancing investigative benefits with privacy rights.
Next Steps in the Guthrie Case
Investigators continue forensic testing on biological evidence collected at and near Nancy Guthrie’s home while simultaneously reviewing genetic genealogy options and commercial database leads. Authorities say their work is deliberate and methodical: building reliable DNA profiles for genealogical searches can take time, but it can also yield decisive investigative leads when traditional databases produce no match.
Note: Officials have not named a suspect or person of interest. The investigation remains active.
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