The case of missing Nancy Guthrie has taken a significant turn - and this time, it involves science that could do what months of searching hasn't been able to.
A hair sample collected from Nancy's Tucson, Arizona home has been transferred to the FBI Laboratory for advanced forensic testing. The sample was originally held by a private Florida lab working alongside the Pima County Sheriff's Department before being sent to federal authorities within recent days.
The FBI confirmed the transfer, stating: "We remain fully committed to this investigation."
Why a Single Hair Could Change Everything
What makes this development different is the technology now being applied to it.
Genetic genealogist CeCe Moore - one of the most recognized names in forensic DNA science - explained that new methods can now extract usable DNA from a rootless hair shaft, something that was simply impossible just a few years ago.
"Hair can absolutely make the case solvable," Moore said during an appearance on Brian Entin Investigates. "I've been really hoping that maybe they did have some hair to work with."
The challenge? The DNA recovered from Nancy's home was previously described by Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos as a mixed sample - meaning it contains genetic material from more than one person. That complexity is exactly why it has taken this long to reach the FBI's lab.
"Our lab tells us that there are challenges with it," Nanos said. "The technology is moving so fast that they think some of this stuff will resolve itself just in a matter of weeks or months."
Where the Investigation Stands Right Now
Despite the new development, investigators are tempering expectations.
Moore herself called the DNA evidence a "Hail Mary" - hopeful, but not guaranteed. At least five professional labs across the country are actively working on evidence connected to the case. The FBI is running the hair sample through next-generation sequencing tools capable of isolating individual DNA profiles from complex, degraded, or mixed samples.
If the analysis produces a clean profile, it will be compared against national criminal databases. If no direct match is found, forensic genealogy - the same method used to crack dozens of cold cases in recent years - could still lead investigators to a suspect through distant family connections.
As of today, no suspect has been publicly named.
The FBI released doorbell footage back in February showing a masked male, approximately 5'9"-5'10" tall, at Nancy's front door on the night she went missing - January 31. That image remains one of the strongest visual leads in the case.
The Family Is Still Waiting
Savannah Guthrie returned to the Today show on April 6 after a two-month absence, but the search for her mother remains at the center of everything.
The family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy's recovery. The FBI is separately offering up to $100,000 for tips leading to an arrest.
For the Guthrie family - and for the many people across the country holding onto hope for Nancy - this latest development is a reminder that the search is far from over. In moments like these, faith in both science and something greater keeps the door open.
"Someone knows something," the Guthrie family said in a March statement. "It's possible a member of this community has information they don't even realize is significant."
Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Pima County Sheriff's Department at 520-351-4900.
