Authorities have turned to examining Walmart records in their search for Nancy Guthrie, as they race against time to find a decisive break in the case.
Investigators have determined that the primary suspect, as seen in doorbell camera footage outside Nancy Guthrie’s Arizona home, was wearing an Ozark Trail Hiker backpack, mask, and clothing purchased at Walmart.
They are investigating online and in-store purchase records of Walmart’s Ozark Trail Hiker over the past several months, including sales beyond the Tucson area. Authorities have also spent days combing through video surveillance footage at local Walmarts, according to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos in a statement to CBS News.
The FBI said Sunday that it found a black glove in a field beside a road near Guthrie’s home that “appears” to match the gloves the suspect was seen wearing in the doorbell camera footage. The glove contains DNA evidence, according to the agency, and is undergoing analysis, a lead that could be crucial as it could potentially identify the suspect.
“This process typically takes 24 hours from when the bureau receives DNA,” the FBI said.
DNA evidence will be run through the national CODIS database in the hopes of identifying a matching profile. The FBI-managed Combined DNA Index System holds over 19 million offender profiles.
The glove is one of about 16 collected by investigators in various areas near the house, but most of the other gloves were discarded by searchers, according to the FBI.
“The one with the DNA profile recovered is different and appears to match the gloves of the subject in the surveillance video,” officials said in a statement.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, is the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie. She disappeared from her home over two weeks ago, leaving little clue as to who abducted her or their motive for doing so. Authorities have temporarily detained several people for questioning in the case but have released them without pressing charges. Officials are also investigating multiple ransom notes sent to several media outlets to determine whether they are authentic or sent by impostors seeking to take advantage of the situation.
Authorities have described the suspect seen in the doorbell camera footage as a male with an average build, who is 5’9” to 5’10” tall. Time is of the essence in the search, since Nancy Guthrie is reliant on daily medication for survival.
FBI DOUBLES REWARD IN SEARCH FOR NANCY GUTHRIE AS NEW SUSPECT DETAILS RELEASED
Savannah Guthrie has posted several videos to social media pleading for the abductor to release her mother. She made the latest appeal on Sunday, saying, “It is never too late to do the right thing.”
“And we are here. And we believe in the essential goodness of every human being, that it’s never too late,” she said.