The search for missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie in Tucson, Arizona, has intensified as the Pima County Sheriff’s Department seeks additional neighborhood surveillance footage to aid in the investigation. Residents in the Guthrie neighborhood are urged to submit any video captured through the Ring’s Neighbors App, particularly footage from January 1 to February 2, that depicts any suspicious activity involving people or vehicles.
Recent developments in the case reveal the collection of DNA from Guthrie’s home, which did not match that of the elderly woman or her close acquaintances. This evidence, announced on February 13, included multiple gloves found within proximity to her residence. However, Sheriff Chris Nanos clarified that no gloves were discovered in her actual home, with the closest pairs located approximately two miles away.
The case has also highlighted a reported friction between local and federal authorities concerning DNA evidence processing. Speculation suggests disagreement over the submission of gloves for DNA analysis to a private lab in South Florida, a situation that has drawn attention amidst ongoing concerns about the investigation’s progress. The lab, DNA Labs International, serves many law enforcement agencies but cannot directly upload profiles to the FBI’s CODIS database due to its private status.
Amid the investigation, President Donald Trump commented, asserting that local authorities continue to have jurisdiction and are making progress. He acknowledged rumors concerning potential drug cartel involvement, indicating that no conclusions could be drawn until more information is known about the suspect, who remains unidentified.
Compounding the case, Derrick Callella, a man from Southern California, has been arrested for allegedly sending a false ransom note to Guthrie’s family. He faces federal charges for his actions, which authorities deemed as an opportunistic attempt to exploit the ongoing case.
FBI officials have also released video footage of a male suspect observed tampering with Guthrie’s doorbell camera prior to her disappearance. This suspect is characterized as being of average build, approximately 5’9″ to 5’10” tall, and carrying a distinctive black backpack. Investigators hope that locating the backpack’s purchaser could yield significant leads in the case.
As the investigation unfolds, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department is diligently analyzing various pieces of collected evidence in hopes of tracing a path to Nancy Guthrie’s whereabouts. The community’s cooperation in providing surveillance footage could play a crucial role in piecing together the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, underscoring the shared responsibility in tackling crime and ensuring justice.