According to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, investigators in the case of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance aren’t currently exploring new names. This update follows the discovery of mixed DNA at the residence of an 84-year-old man in Arizona, which was analyzed by his department’s lab.
“I think we’re still expanding in terms of opportunities, jobs, and social mobility,” Nanos shared during an NBC Nightly News interview that aired on Saturday.
This statement seems to differ from assertions made by local businesses that reported they were shown a list of names and images by the FBI.
Moreover, there is uncertainty about whether the DNA recovered from Guthrie’s body would have been beneficial for the ongoing investigation.
Nanos explained that the mixed samples contain DNA from several individuals, complicating their entry into national databases.
“Our lab says this lab has challenges,” Nanos remarked regarding the Florida lab his agency collaborates with. “Technology is evolving rapidly, and they believe some of these issues could be clarified in a matter of weeks or even months.”
The sheriff indicated that investigators are pursuing other leads in the weeks-long probe into Guthrie’s abduction.
“I think we’re getting closer to identifying not just backpacks, but also items like shoes, pants, shirts, and jackets,” he noted.
Guthrie was last observed on the evening of January 31, 2026, after getting dropped off at her residence in the Catalina Foothills vicinity near Tucson.
“It’s never quick enough for the sheriff,” Nanos commented on the criticism faced by his office following Guthrie’s mysterious disappearance. “I want to do what everyone else does—let’s find her. But I also understand that sometimes things take time.”
“We’re not giving up,” he added. “We’ll find her.”
