Nancy Guthrie Update: Retired FBI Agent Issues 'Caution' Over Hair DNA Sample
Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie‘s mom, Nancy Guthrie, is still missing 10 weeks after she was abducted from Tucson, Ariz.-and a retired FBI agent just issued "caution" over a hair DNA sample.
On April 16, ABC News reported that FBI received DNA evidence in the form a hair sample from the 84-year-old's home. The Pima County Sheriff's Department (PCSD) initially sent it to a private lab in Florida. However, the FBI is now reportedly using new technology for advanced analysis of the genetic material.
Although the DNA development seemings promising, retired FBI special agent Jennifer Coffindaffer warned those following the case that it could be a dead end.
After pointing out that investigators seem to have multiple DNA samples, she shared, " I also want to caution everybody that even though that they have this hair-for sure, we know, a hair now-that they can't seem to attribute to anybody that would have formally been in there. Which I would believe they ruled out the family members, they ruled Nancy out, they ruled out the housekeeper, people that would have been in that house. I caution everybody because it's good news, but I'm sort of optimistically very cautious."
Coffindaffer explained, "Because just think in 50 years that she's lived there, all the people that could have been in that house. That a hair could have fallen."
Nancy Guthrie-The DNA and the FBI plus D4vd Arrested! https://t.co/nuhc9gFlXZ
— Jennifer Coffindaffer (@CoffindafferFBI) April 17, 2026
The former FBI agent also pointed out that the DNA sample "would have been a hair that was without the root because if it was with the root, they would have had this hair attributed to somebody very long ago."
Although it's possible for the FBI make a DNA profile from a rootless hair, Coffindaffer said "it's going to take time."
Back in February, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos echoed this sentiment when he shared that DNA evidence collected from Nancy's home was "mixed." This means it contained genetic material from more than one person.
"Our lab tells us that there are challenges with it," Nanos explained, per Fox News. "The technology is moving so fast and in such a frenzy that they think some of this stuff will resolve itself just in a matter of weeks, months, or maybe a year."
On Jan. 31, Nancy was last seen at her Tucson home. The PCSD launched it search on Feb. 1, with the FBI joining in soon afterward. As of writing, no suspect has been named, despite Savannah offering a $1 million reward.
Next: Nancy Guthrie Update: FBI Releases New Message for the First Time in Weeks
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published April 17, 2026 at 1:31 PM.