A potential clue in the search for Nancy Guthrie, the missing 84-year-old mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, has taken an unexpected turn after investigators confirmed that a glove discovered near her home is not connected to the case.
Authorities said DNA testing traced the glove to a local restaurant employee, ruling out what many initially believed could have been a key piece of evidence in the ongoing investigation.
The glove was discovered Feb. 15 along a dirt path about two miles from Guthrie's Tucson, Arizona, home, where she was last seen in the early hours of Feb. 1.
Because the glove appeared similar to those worn by a masked individual captured on surveillance footage near Guthrie's home, investigators initially considered it a possible lead.
However, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said DNA analysis later revealed the glove belonged to someone working at a nearby restaurant and had no connection to the disappearance.
"We believed wholeheartedly that those gloves belonged to a restaurant," Nanos said in an interview with local NBC affiliate KVOA. "The owner of the glove, we found working at a restaurant across the street. It has nothing to do with the case."
The Pima County Sheriff's Department also confirmed on social media that the person connected to the glove "is not part of this investigation."
Evidence Still Being Examined
Although that lead has now been ruled out, investigators say other evidence remains under examination as the search for Guthrie continues.
Sheriff Nanos said additional gloves collected during the investigation were sent to a lab in Florida for further testing, though the analysis has proven complicated due to mixed DNA samples.
"It's a challenge because we know we have DNA," Nanos explained. "But now we have to deal with that mixture and how we're going to separate it."
Law enforcement officials, working in partnership with the FBI, say they are continuing to follow leads while carefully managing what information can be released to the public.
Timeline of the Disappearance
Authorities believe Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her Tucson home during the early morning hours of Feb. 1.
Investigators previously released several details from surveillance footage and digital data connected to the case.
According to officials:
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Guthrie's doorbell camera was disconnected at 1:47 a.m.
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A dark figure was detected approaching the home at 2:12 a.m.
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At 2:28 a.m., her pacemaker disconnected from its linked cellphone app
Investigators also confirmed that blood found on the front porch belonged to Guthrie, further supporting the belief that she was taken against her will.
The FBI has described the person seen in the surveillance footage as a male approximately 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall with an average build, carrying a black Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.
Reward Offered for Information
As the search continues, the Guthrie family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie's recovery. The FBI has also announced a $100,000 reward connected to the case.
Savannah Guthrie has repeatedly thanked supporters and asked the public to continue praying and sharing any information that could help bring her mother home.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Pima County Sheriff's Department at 520-351-4900.
