DNA Found As Three People Linked to Nancy Guthrie Disappearance Detained

A major law enforcement operation unfolded Friday night in Tucson’s Shadow Hills neighborhood as authorities intensified their search for missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie.

According to a local resident who spoke with News 4 Tucson, three individuals were detained during the SWAT deployment. The operation, confirmed by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department to be directly tied to the Guthrie investigation, marked another significant development in a case that has drawn statewide and national attention.

An additional, unconfirmed report circulating among neighbors alleges that another individual shot himself in the head during the incident. Authorities have not formally verified those claims.

Escalating Enforcement Activity

Friday’s operation follows a February 13 action at a home in the same neighborhood. Sources close to the investigation indicated that a man and a woman were detained at that residence, while a third individual was taken into custody during a separate traffic stop.

A sheriff’s department vehicle was observed blocking East Placita De Graciela and East Camino de Michael as tactical units secured the area. Officials have stated that a formal update is forthcoming.

FBI Releases Suspect Description

Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has stepped up its visible involvement. The bureau’s Operational Technology Division recently released a physical description of the individual seen in doorbell camera footage outside Guthrie’s home.

Investigators describe the suspect as standing between 5 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall with an average build. Surveillance imagery shows the individual wearing a ski mask and gloves and carrying a 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.

DNA Evidence Raises Critical Questions

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos revealed that forensic teams recovered DNA from the scene that does not belong to Guthrie.

“What I believe is what I know is we found DNA,” Nanos told Fox News correspondent Jonathan Hunt during a sit-down interview.

When pressed about whether the biological material matched the missing woman, Nanos was direct: “That was not Nancy Guthrie’s DNA.”

The sheriff confirmed that authorities are working with a contracted forensic laboratory in Florida to analyze the evidence, following established departmental procedures. Investigators are also collecting elimination markers from individuals connected to the residence to exclude known DNA sources and narrow potential matches.

Addressing public concerns about evidence handling, Nanos emphasized ongoing coordination with federal partners. He further clarified that a glove previously mentioned in reports was not found inside Guthrie’s home but approximately two miles away during expanded search operations.

A Rescue Mission, Not a Recovery

Despite the gravity of recent developments, Sheriff Nanos stressed that the investigation remains centered on bringing Guthrie home safely.

“They all have hope and belief that this is a rescue mission,” he said.

Search operations have included ground teams, aerial resources, and coordination between local and federal agencies. Investigators are reconstructing Guthrie’s final known movements while canvassing nearby homes for additional security footage.

Officials confirmed that forensic testing remains ongoing. While early results have yet to deliver decisive clarity, authorities insist the case remains active, expansive, and evolving.

Family members continue to plead publicly for information, urging anyone who observed suspicious vehicles, unfamiliar individuals, or unusual activity in the days leading up to February 1 to contact law enforcement immediately.

As southern Arizona waits for answers, the case underscores the importance of strong interagency cooperation, forensic precision, and unwavering commitment to public safety in the face of disturbing uncertainty.