New technology could help Nancy Guthrie case: Genealogist

(NewsNation) — A top FBI official clarified Monday the DNA evidence found at Nancy Guthrie’s home is not “new,” but the underlying technology may be key in making new headway in the confounding case.

On Friday, NewsNation learned DNA evidence, including hair, from Guthrie‘s home has been sent to the FBI’s lab for advanced analysis.

The evidence has already been tested through a Florida lab used by the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, but there is hope whole genome sequencing could lead to a breakthrough.

Genome sequencing extracts nuclear DNA from a sample, which could be blood, saliva or the shaft of a stray hair, meaning you do not need the root on the end. It was used to help break the case of Rex Heuermann, the Gilgo Beach serial killer.

Genetic genealogist Cece Moore told NewsNation, “Genetic genealogy came in 2018. The ability that Dr. Ed Green created to extract this profile from rootless hair is even newer than that. So it’s another leap forward that opens up a lot more cases to potentially be solved.”

She added that, given the Guthrie case is not yet cold, the DNA will be worked on immediately with the goal of fast-tracking results compared to the usual multiple months.

“Sometimes they can get DNA the first time around, and sometimes they have to go through several attempts before they can get that viable profile,” Moore said.

Former CIA officer and FBI Special Agent Tracy Walder told “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” on Friday the DNA testing could be key in the investigation.

“We need this information to be able to rule people out or rule people in, in this case. So, in a case like this, where we really actually don’t have a lot of digital forensic evidence, which obviously the FBI is very good at, really, this becomes very, very important,” Walder told NewsNation.

“We have a clear lack of video forensic evidence, as we have seen, as well as really phone and those kinds of forensic evidence, and so I think in this case, there’s no question that that hair is going to be important in terms of ruling whomever that is in or out, and the FBI is going to probably have to investigate if they can get a hook on who it is,” she added.

Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, disappeared late Jan. 31 or early Feb. 1 from her home in Tucson, Ariz.

Authorities have said Guthrie likely was targeted before she was taken from her residence. She was last seen while being dropped off at home Jan. 31 by a family member.

Moore previously told NewsNation’s Brian Entin that investigators should return to Nancy Guthrie’s home in a bid to recover more DNA samples.

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