A Glove in the Desert – And a Crucial DNA Test

A quiet Arizona neighborhood has been thrust into a chilling mystery that grows darker by the day. Fifteen days after Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Catalina Foothills home under what authorities believe were terrifying circumstances, investigators say a possible breakthrough has emerged.

A glove recovered miles away — one that may match those worn by a masked figure seen lurking outside 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie’s home — is now undergoing DNA testing.

The question haunting her family and the wider community: Could this be the clue that finally unmasks the man authorities believe took her against her will?

A Glove in the Desert – And a Crucial DNA Test

On the 15th day of the investigation into Nancy’s disappearance, the FBI confirmed that a glove found near her Tucson-area home is being tested for DNA and may visually match the gloves worn by a masked suspect captured on surveillance footage.

An FBI spokesperson told Fox News on Sunday, February 15, that among several gloves recovered during the search, one appears to resemble the gloves seen on the suspect outside Nancy’s residence the night officials believe she was abducted.

The glove was discovered about two miles from her home, lying in a field near the side of the road — an eerie detail that has intensified speculation about a possible escape route.

DNA extracted from the glove is now undergoing analysis. Investigators are awaiting final lab confirmation before uploading the unknown male DNA profile into CoDIS, the FBI’s national database, where it can be compared against DNA collected in felony cases and missing persons investigations nationwide.

The FBI described the discovery as a significant development. A first step in processing DNA evidence is running it through criminal databases to determine whether it matches a known offender.

Authorities may also turn to investigative genetic genealogy — a technique that has helped crack cold cases in recent years.

This method allows law enforcement to submit DNA evidence to third-party DNA mapping services used by the public. Even if a suspect has never submitted DNA, a relative might have, potentially narrowing down an identity through family connections.

Familial DNA played a key role in the case of Bryan Kohberger, who was convicted of killing four Idaho college students.

Former FBI Agent: ‘Almost Instantaneous’ Identification Possible

Former FBI agent Jonathan Gilliam said the glove could be pivotal. “They can run that through the FBI CoDIS, which is basically a program that takes all felonies or people who’ve committed crimes that are felonious in nature, and they have their DNA taken — that gets into this program along with missing persons,” he said.

“As soon as that’s through, it’s going to take no time for that. I mean, that computer system can start working rapidly. If there’s a match within that database, then identification of the individual will be almost instantaneous once they make that connection,” revealed Gilliam.

But even if there is a match, the hunt would not end immediately. “Then you have to find that person. So, are they in a location that they have reported being? Or do they have to go out and develop leads to find out where they are?” he stated. “But this is a move towards the right area of operation.”

Former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb cautioned that DNA testing is not as swift as television dramas might suggest.

“DNA is not like a TV show where you get the results within no time and you figure out who did it by the end of the show,” Lamb mentioned. “DNA takes time and there is a place in Florida that you can actually process DNA against familial DNA and this could be anyone who might be related to a suspect.”

The Pacemaker Ping That Went Silent at 2 a.m.

Authorities have deployed a range of investigative tools in their race against time.

Law enforcement flew over Nancy’s home using a Bluetooth signal detector in an attempt to track a signal from her pacemaker. The device reportedly disconnected from her phone app just before 2 a.m. on February 1 — the same night officials believe she was abducted.

Cybersecurity expert Morgan Wright explained how digital breadcrumbs may assist investigators.

“You open up a browser and it pings — that creates a ping with latitude and longitude, a specific location and a time we can track, so I’ve actually got two teams and analysts looking at the data,” Wright said. “Once this is done, were gonna provide a report for law enforcement.”

CNN further reported that if the glove is confirmed to belong to the suspect seen outside Nancy’s home, the location where it was recovered could reveal critical clues about his possible route after her suspected abduction.

400 Officers, SWAT Activity, and ‘No Sign of Nancy’

As investigators continue analyzing DNA evidence, the scale of the operation has come into sharper focus.

According to The New York Times, Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators have collected DNA swabs from Nancy’s family members and workers who had been at her home in order to rule out known individuals.

Sheriff Nanos confirmed that a lab is running DNA tests on gloves found roughly two miles from Nancy’s house. Doorbell-camera footage from February 1 shows a masked figure wearing dark gloves, a backpack, and what appears to be a holstered handgun.

Still, Nanos admitted he had “no way” of knowing whether the gloves recovered are the same ones worn by the masked man captured in the black-and-white video. As the search enters its third week, approximately 400 people are working the case, and investigators are still busy “looking hard.”

“Maybe it’s an hour from now,” he said. “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.”

Authorities have warned residents to expect continued police activity across the community. In a February 15 post on X, Fox News correspondent Matt Finn shared updates from Sheriff Nanos regarding a significant police and SWAT response that drew attention the night before.

According to Finn’s post, a person detained during a traffic stop outside a Culver’s restaurant — believed to involve a gray Range Rover — was considered a person of interest. The individual was described as “cooperative” and later released.

Regarding others detained during the execution of a search warrant, Nanos said, “I’m guessing anyone at the residence was ‘detained’ but that is standard procedure to allow investigators serving a search warrant freedom to conduct their search. I was not at the scene and I’m sure people were detained but no one was arrested and more importantly…no sign of Nancy was found.”

Nanos further outlined how authorities plan to proceed. “Everyday moving forward there will be a lot of police activity throughout the community. As to what level of activity that is depends on what lead they chase and how it develops,” he shared.

“These leads start in the command post and move to the field as needed. That is one reason you’re seeing activity build up as the day goes on that can ultimately lead to a search warrant looking for Nancy and any suspect involved,” concluded Nanos.

Savannah Guthrie Steps Away from ‘Today’ amid Family Ordeal

While the agonizing search unfolds in Arizona, the case has deeply affected Nancy’s daughter, “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.

Page Six reported on February 15 that Savannah, 54, will remain off the “Today” show for the “foreseeable future” as the search for her mother continues. She is currently in Tucson as the investigation reaches its 15th day.

Her absence has sparked speculation about her future on the NBC morning program, where she has served as co-anchor since July 2012. However, sources told Page Six that the network’s priority is supporting her during this harrowing time.

“The entire show and network is rallying together in support of our beloved colleague and friend as we navigate this unimaginable time,” an NBC source told the outlet.

Page Six previously reported in October 2024 that Savannah had more than a year remaining on her seven million-dollar-a-year contract, meaning her agreement is approaching renewal. Still, those close to her described discussions about her career as inappropriate under the circumstances.

“Everyone at ‘Today’ is taking this day by day, and of course giving Savannah the grace, time and support she needs,” one source noted, adding that they “all pray constantly” for a resolution.

As investigators await DNA results that could identify the masked suspect seen outside Nancy Guthrie’s home, the case remains a race against uncertainty. Authorities continue to pursue every lead, process every piece of evidence, and reassure a shaken community that they will not stop until answers are found.