A critical new piece of evidence has emerged in the desperate search for Nancy Guthrie, and investigators believe it could move the case into a new phase.
A glove recovered near the missing 84-year-old’s Arizona home is now believed to match the one worn by the masked figure captured on surveillance footage the night she vanished, according to an FBI spokesperson. Even more significant, authorities say the glove contains DNA.
While officials are urging patience and caution, the discovery is being viewed as one of the most concrete developments since Guthrie disappeared more than two weeks ago.
What Authorities Confirmed
Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, an FBI spokesperson said the glove recovered during the investigation is consistent with the item seen on the suspect in previously released security video.
Investigators have also determined that biological material was present on the glove. That DNA, officials said, appears to be different from samples previously collected in and around the residence.
However, authorities are not yet ready to declare a match or name a suspect.
Final laboratory confirmation is still pending, and once complete, the DNA profile is expected to be uploaded into national databases to determine whether it corresponds to anyone already known to law enforcement.
Until that happens, officials stress the case remains open and highly active.
A Trail of Evidence Growing Slowly
The glove did not surface in isolation.
Earlier this week, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that DNA had been recovered from inside the home that did not belong to Guthrie or anyone considered to be in her immediate circle of regular contact.
“DNA other than Nancy Guthrie’s and those in close contact to her has been collected from the property,” the department said in a statement. “Investigators are working to identify who it belongs to.”
Authorities have declined to say precisely where inside the residence the material was located or how it may connect to the glove discovered nearby.
The cautious language reflects the delicate nature of forensic investigations, where premature conclusions can derail prosecutions or contaminate witness accounts.
The Surveillance Footage
FBI via Getty Images
Public attention has largely centered on the haunting video image released by federal authorities.
The footage shows a masked individual near Guthrie’s home in the early morning hours. At one point, the person appears to approach or interact with a security camera.
The figure is wearing gloves.
Investigators have not confirmed whether the individual in the video is responsible for Guthrie’s disappearance, but the image has become the defining visual of the case.
If the glove truly links back to that person, it could provide detectives with their first tangible bridge between the video and a real identity.
A Family Waiting for Answers
For Guthrie’s children — Savannah, Annie, and Camron — the forensic developments offer cautious hope, but also underscore the agonizing uncertainty they continue to endure.
Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of NBC’s Today, has remained in Tucson and away from the broadcast while the search continues. Network sources say colleagues have rallied around her, describing an atmosphere of support and solidarity behind the scenes.
Publicly, the family has continued to share messages of love, remembrance, and determination.
They have asked anyone with information to come forward and have repeatedly thanked volunteers, law enforcement, and community members who have joined the effort.
Investigators Temper Expectations
Despite the dramatic headlines, authorities are careful not to promise quick answers.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos recently warned that cases like this can stretch on far longer than families or the public hope.
“Maybe it’s an hour from now,” Nanos said in a recent interview. “Maybe it’s weeks or months or years from now. But we won’t quit. We’re going to find Nancy. We’re going to find this guy.”
Those words reflect a reality familiar to law enforcement: DNA evidence can be transformative, but it is rarely instantaneous. Testing, verification, database comparisons, and legal steps all take time.
The Reward and the Pressure
The FBI has increased the reward for information leading to Guthrie’s location or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved to $100,000.
That figure signals both urgency and confidence that someone may hold the missing piece.
Investigators often say breakthroughs come not only from laboratories, but from tips — neighbors who remember something unusual, drivers who saw a vehicle, acquaintances who notice suspicious behavior.
Why This Moment Matters
For weeks, the investigation has advanced through methodical searches, interviews, and small recoveries.
The glove, if confirmed as belonging to the person in the surveillance footage, would mark the first time physical evidence potentially ties a real human being to the shadowy figure seen near the home.
It would not close the case.
But it would narrow it.
And in missing-person investigations, narrowing the field can be everything.
What Comes Next
For now, the process moves to the lab.
Experts will attempt to extract, amplify, and compare the DNA. Detectives will continue retracing timelines, following leads, and preparing for multiple outcomes — including the possibility that the profile may not immediately match anyone in existing systems.
Meanwhile, the family waits.
The community watches.
And investigators hold onto what may be the most promising clue yet in the effort to bring Nancy Guthrie home.
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