DNA from black gloves found near the Arizona home of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie has been matched to a local restaurant worker with no connection to her disappearance, authorities said. This follows earlier analysis linking the gloves to a suspect seen on video outside her home. The Pima County Sheriff's Department update comes as the search continues and other evidence is examined.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department announced Wednesday that DNA from black gloves found about two miles from Nancy Guthrie's Tucson-area home belongs to an employee at a nearby restaurant, who is not considered a suspect.
"Sheriff Chris Nanos stated in a recent interview that the black gloves... were traced back via DNA analysis to a person who works at a restaurant in the area. That person is not considered part of this investigation," a department spokesperson said. Lab work continues on other DNA evidence from the scene.
The gloves, discovered February 11 in a roadside field, were among about 16 collected nearby—most from searchers. Initially flagged because they resembled those worn by a masked suspect captured on doorbell video outside Guthrie's home on January 31, the DNA was run through the FBI's CODIS database (no match) before further testing.
Guthrie, mother of 'Today' show co-host Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing February 1 after last being seen at home. Blood was found on her porch, and purported ransom notes were sent to media. Her family offers up to $1 million for information leading to her recovery; the FBI adds $100,000. Some DNA from the home may be too low-quality for profiles.
