Eighteen days into the mysterious disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, who is the mother of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos reportedly said he thinks the suspect had a particular target in his sights.
“I think this was an individual who had a target for whatever reason, and he has made it tough, but I’ve got some pretty tough investigators, too,” Nanos told NBC’s Liz Kreutz during an interview with “Today,” which aired on Wednesday morning.
According to the media outlet, Nanos said investigators are zeroing in on DNA they recovered at Nancy Guthrie’s house.
“We believe that we may have some DNA there that may be our suspect, but we won’t know that until that DNA is separated, sorted out, maybe admitted to CODIS, maybe through genetic genealogy,” Nanos said, per Today. “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 two miles away.”
Nanos also spoke about rumors that swirled online, including claims that the suspect — who was seen sporting a mask and gloves in surveillance photos — was wearing a ring under one of the gloves.
“I look at the same photo you look at and I get. I see it. I see,” Nanos told Today. “People have circled and said (it’s a ring). My speculation is, I’m going to give that to my team. They’ll look at that. They’ll analyze it, and we’ll see.”
The sheriff made the comments just one day after the department announced that the unknown male DNA found on a glove recovered near Nancy Guthrie’s house did not result in any matches after it was entered into the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) DNA database.
The department noted that the DNA found at the property is being analyzed, adding that further testing needs to be done as part of the investigation.
TUCSON, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 13: In an aerial view, FBI and SWAT units perform operations in a neighborhood approximately two miles from Nancy Guthrie’s residence on February 13, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. Searches continue for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of February 1st. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Autorites also shut down speculation that the kidnapping was an inside job, as they said all members of the Guthrie family were cleared as potential suspects.
Investigators recently released surveillance video showing an armed, masked suspect at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the night she was abducted. The FBI later described the suspect as a male who is approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall to 5 feet 10 inches tall, with an average build.
“We hope this updated description will help concentrate the public tips we are receiving,” FBI Phoenix previously said.
They also shared images of an Ozark Trail Hiker Pack, which investigators said is a style of backpack the suspect was seen wearing in surveillance footage.
FBI Phoenix said the FBI increased its reward from $50,000 to $100,000 for information that leads to Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.
The FBI urged anyone who has information about the case to call the agency at 1-800-CALL-FBI, as well as the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900.
________________
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
National Headline
