FBI Says Glove With DNA Appears To Match Suspect’s Gloves In Guthrie Case

Federal investigators say a potentially major forensic breakthrough has emerged in the abduction case of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, as a black glove recovered near her home may be linked to the masked suspect captured on surveillance footage the night she vanished.

The FBI confirmed that the glove — discovered February 11 in a brush area roughly two miles from Guthrie’s residence in the Catalina Foothills — “appears to match the gloves of the subject in the surveillance video.” The statement further noted that the glove containing a DNA profile is visually consistent with those worn by the suspect and distinct from other gloves recovered during the search.

Authorities collected approximately 16 gloves throughout the operation. Most were quickly ruled out as unrelated. However, one glove was separated after investigators identified a viable DNA sample.

According to reporting from the New York Post, preliminary testing conducted at a private forensic laboratory in Florida identified an unknown male DNA profile. The samples reportedly arrived Friday, and initial results were returned Saturday. The FBI said it is awaiting final quality control confirmation, a process that typically takes about 24 hours.

Once officially verified, the DNA profile will be entered into CODIS — the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System — the national database used to compare forensic samples against known offenders and other criminal profiles. A match could provide the first concrete investigative lead in a case that has gripped the Arizona community.

Guthrie was last seen the night of January 31 and is believed to have been abducted from her home shortly thereafter. Investigators previously confirmed signs of forced entry and blood splatter on the front porch belonging to Guthrie. Her pacemaker reportedly lost signal contact shortly after 2 a.m. on February 1.

Although the suspect disabled the home’s doorbell camera, authorities were able to recover residual data. On February 11, the FBI released an image showing a masked man approaching the home armed with a handgun and carrying what officials described as a 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker backpack. The footage shows the individual covering the camera with brush before entering the property.

The FBI has described the suspect as a male approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall. The reward for information leading to Guthrie’s return or the arrest of a suspect has been increased to $100,000.

Investigators have executed two major search operations in recent weeks, including a raid Friday in the Catalina Foothills area. While authorities described evidence recovered as “of interest,” no arrests have yet been made.

In an effort to locate Guthrie or determine her whereabouts, law enforcement has also deployed specialized technology designed to detect signals from her pacemaker. NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin reported that a “signal sniffer” device was mounted to a sheriff’s helicopter in hopes of identifying any remaining transmission. According to Entin, the aircraft must fly low and move slowly for the equipment to function effectively.

Officials have not confirmed whether any pacemaker signal has been detected.

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Federal and local authorities continue urging anyone with information to come forward as forensic testing proceeds — and as the potential DNA lead offers renewed hope that answers may soon follow.