The sheriff told Today on March 3 that DNA recovered from Nancy Guthrie’s home has produced no matches in the FBI database. The sample is mixed, complicating laboratory analysis and preventing a clear suspect profile. Forensic experts say rerunning mixed samples and using amplification techniques can sometimes reveal a minor contributor’s DNA, but doing so takes time. The investigation remains active as authorities pursue additional testing and other leads.
Sheriff: DNA From Nancy Guthrie’s Home Yields No Matches; Mixed Sample Hinders Investigation
Sheriff Chris Nanos said in a March 3 interview on Today that DNA recovered from the home of missing woman Nancy Guthrie has produced no matches so far in national databases. Guthrie has been missing for more than a month, and authorities have not yet identified a suspect.
Update From the Sheriff
Nanos confirmed that DNA extracted from items inside the residence was uploaded to the FBI’s national database but returned zero hits. Investigators previously reported the sample is a mixture of genetic material, which has made it difficult to isolate a clear profile from a potential suspect.
Forensic Challenges and Options
Arizona State University forensic science professor April Stonehouse told Today that mixed DNA samples present technical hurdles but are not necessarily a dead end. "I think that means that there are potentially items of evidence that maybe don’t have a lot of DNA on them to begin with," she said. "Let’s say 90 percent of the DNA comes from the victim and only 10 percent is from the suspect. What they can potentially do is go back and rerun that sample and add more DNA, hoping to bring up the signal from the suspect’s profile."
"Rerunning" mixed samples and using advanced laboratory techniques can sometimes amplify minor contributors and produce a usable profile, Stonehouse explained, but she cautioned that the process takes time and careful validation.
Where the Investigation Stands
Authorities say the forensic testing remains ongoing and that the mixed DNA evidence could still prove important. Officials emphasize patience as labs apply additional methods and as investigators pursue other lines of inquiry. Media coverage has included commentary from former law enforcement professionals weighing possible scenarios, but no suspect has been publicly identified.
Original publication: Parade, Mar 3, 2026.
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