Pima County law enforcement officials have publicly removed Nancy Guthrie's immediate relatives from the list of possible suspects in her disappearance, the sheriff said, as the investigation moves into its third week.
Sheriff Chris Nanos said the Guthrie family - identified by authorities as including "all siblings and spouses" - have been cooperative and gracious throughout the inquiry. He emphasized that the family should be regarded as victims rather than persons of interest in the case.
"To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel," the sheriff said. "The Guthrie family are victims plain and simple."
Investigators reported that they obtained a DNA sample from a glove recovered near the Arizona residence of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie. That DNA appears to match the pair of gloves observed on a masked prowler in doorbell camera footage recorded prior to her abduction, authorities said.
Officials have said Nancy Guthrie was last seen on January 31 when family members dropped her off at her home near Tucson after dining with them. Relatives reported her missing the next day, according to the investigation timeline shared by law enforcement. The case has now entered its third week without a confirmed resolution.
Authorities' public statements have stressed both the ongoing nature of the investigation and the cooperative posture of the family. The DNA sample recovered from the glove and the video evidence from the doorbell camera are the facts officials have highlighted as investigative leads, but law enforcement has not announced an arrest or identified a suspect.
The status of the family as cleared suspects and described as victims may affect public perception of the case as investigators continue to follow forensic and video leads. Officials have urged restraint in assigning blame while the inquiry proceeds.
Context and next steps
Law enforcement continues to analyze the DNA and other evidence gathered at the scene. No additional factual updates about the identity of the person seen in the doorbell footage or the whereabouts of Nancy Guthrie have been released.