PIMA COUNTY — The FBI’s Phoenix office stated on July 30, 2026, that hair evidence collected from Nancy Guthrie’s Arizona home yielded no DNA and does not point to any suspects in her disappearance. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed that the analysis returned no results, but he emphasized that a joint task force remains committed to solving the case.

The FBI stated that "all hair had been resolved and it does not point to a suspect" in the investigation. Nanos explained the scientific limitations of the sample, noting that hair does not produce DNA in the same way as touch DNA or bodily fluids. "To find DNA on hair is extremely rare," Nanos said.

The 84-year-old Guthrie, mother of "TODAY" co-host Savannah Guthrie, disappeared on February 1, 2026. She was last seen on the evening of January 31 after dining at the home of her daughter Annie. Security camera footage captured a masked man at Guthrie’s door in the early hours of February 1, leading investigators to believe she was abducted in the days following her disappearance.

he stated that the hair sample results were verified in early June 2026. A DNA sample had been sent by sheriff's detectives to a private laboratory in Florida and to the FBI’s crime lab in Quantico, Virginia. Despite the lack of a match from the hair, he noted that blood and other DNA found at the scene are still being analyzed.

"We have a lot of DNA that is being looked at by credible scientists around the country who know and understand what they have in front of them and they understand the rules that they have to play by," he said. He added that the analysis of DNA and digital evidence has been complex and time-intensive.

Two men were arrested and subsequently released in connection with the disappearance. One person of interest was detained in a traffic stop on February 10 about an hour south of Guthrie’s home. Police questioned delivery driver Carlos Palazuelos in Rio Rico for eight hours on that day and searched his home. Another person of interest was detained in a traffic stop on February 13 near Guthrie's neighborhood near Tucson.

During the February 13 operation, police stopped an unnamed man and impounded a gray Range Rover in Pima County. Officers also raided a house and questioned three people inside that night. He stated that the release of the two men does not mean they are cleared, but that investigators did not have enough evidence to hold them. He declined to comment on whether detectives are still actively investigating the two men.

he stated that evidence obtained led to search warrants and remains viable. He expressed optimism that the case will be resolved based on the evidence before him. "We have so much DNA to sort through. We have so much in terms of video evidence to look at. So I’m still positive that we’re going to resolve this case," he said.

No new video has been recovered other than the surveillance video from Guthrie's home released earlier in the investigation. Federal authorities have described the disappearance as a kidnapping-for-ransom case. The FBI stated on July 1 that it had received several ransom notes, including some that could be legitimate. The agency described other notes as illegitimate extortion attempts and said it is still investigating those demands. Sheriff Nanos confirmed investigators are using familial genealogy as part of the investigation.

Nanos urged anyone with information to come forward to help bring the case to a resolution. "Even when a case goes cold, we don’t give up on it. We continue to work it. This one's far from being cold. God forbid this ever takes 50 years, but it could," he said.

He stated that a task force of investigators from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI remains committed to finding Nancy Guthrie. Savannah Guthrie posted a plea on social media on July 28 directed at her mother's kidnappers. "So I'm asking you, begging you to do the right thing now. Make the right choice. Help us find her. Tell us where to look for her. I truly believe it is never too late to do the right thing," Savannah Guthrie said.

Nanos referenced this sentiment, stating, "As Savannah Guthrie recently said, it is never too late to do the right thing." he stated there is no proof of Nancy Guthrie's death and declined to make that determination, aligning with the family's belief that she is still alive. He stated that he believes the suspects could be local to the Tucson area, though he has no direct evidence of it. "The bottom line here is this: We know more than you will ever know, because that's how investigations work," he said.

Nanos also addressed reports regarding his communication with federal leadership. "I've never talked to him. No, I have no reason to. If I needed him, I'm sure I could talk to him. What I need is to know that his team and my team are working close together and that absolutely they are and they have been for decades," he said regarding FBI Director Kash Patel.

Nanos had previously accused Patel of spreading inaccurate information about the investigation, stating Patel was misinformed. Nancy Guthrie's family is offering a $1 million reward for information, the FBI is offering $100,000, and 88-CRIME is offering $102,500. The Pima County Sheriff is the law enforcement agency in Arizona, USA.

The announcement that hair evidence yielded no DNA marks a specific forensic conclusion in a high-profile abduction case that has spanned nearly six months. While the lack of a genetic match from the hair sample removes one potential avenue for identifying a suspect, officials maintain that significant biological and digital evidence remains under analysis. The continued involvement of both local and federal agencies reflects the resource intensity of the investigation, which includes familial genealogy and the review of ransom notes.

The case affects the broader community through the substantial financial rewards offered by the family, the FBI, and private organizations, totaling more than $1.2 million. Public appeals from Savannah Guthrie and continued statements from Sheriff Nanos keep the disappearance in the public eye, aiming to generate tips that could resolve the open questions regarding the identity of the abductor and the location of Nancy Guthrie. The distinction between legitimate and illegitimate ransom notes adds a layer of complexity to the federal classification of the crime as a kidnapping-for-ransom.