Black gloves recovered in Nancy Guthrie search as DNA testing begins

Investigators searching for missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie have recovered a set of black gloves near the Catalina Foothills area outside Tucson, a development authorities say is now part of an expanded forensic push to identify whoever was captured on a home doorbell camera near the time she vanished. The gloves have been submitted for DNA testing as officials continue sorting through a growing volume of leads.

Nancy Guthrie, who has mobility limitations and requires daily medication, was reported missing after evidence at her home suggested a violent incident. Officials have not publicly identified a suspect.

What was found and where

The black gloves were recovered on Wednesday, February 11, during search activity in the neighborhood around Guthrie’s residence. Investigators have not provided full detail on the glove type or condition, but they have confirmed the items are being tested for DNA.

The location of the discovery—near a roadside within the broader search perimeter—has drawn attention because video released earlier this week showed a masked, armed individual near Guthrie’s front door. The person appeared to tamper with the property’s camera setup, a detail investigators have highlighted as central to the timeline.

Why gloves can be a major break

Gloves are common in abduction and burglary cases because they can reduce fingerprints, but they can also preserve other biological traces. Even minimal “touch DNA” can sometimes be recovered from the inside lining, seams, or areas where a wearer repeatedly grips or adjusts the fabric.

Investigators will typically evaluate several possibilities at once:

• Wearer DNA: skin cells inside the glove that could be compared to known samples or searched against databases where legally permitted

• Transfer DNA: traces from surfaces or items handled while wearing the gloves

• Environmental contamination: DNA or fibers picked up from roadside exposure that may complicate analysis

Officials have cautioned in similar cases that a glove can be significant without being definitive—especially if it cannot be connected clearly to the person seen on video. Forensic value depends on whether usable DNA is present and whether it can be tied to a person or a specific action in the case.

Where the investigation stands now

Authorities continue to treat the home area as the center of the investigation. Earlier updates indicated signs of forced entry and blood at the home that was later confirmed as belonging to Nancy Guthrie. Those findings elevated concerns that this was not a voluntary disappearance.

A man who was detained during a traffic stop earlier in the week was later released without charges. Investigators have not named any individual as a suspect and have not announced an arrest.

Officials have also acknowledged receiving ransom-style communications demanding cryptocurrency. Whether those messages are credible remains unclear at this time, and investigators have not confirmed any verified contact from a kidnapper.

Tips, video evidence, and the wider search

The release of video and still images of the masked individual has triggered a surge in public tips, with authorities indicating they have received tens of thousands of calls and messages. Investigators have urged residents to preserve and review home-security recordings, not only from the immediate hours around the disappearance but also from prior dates that could reveal suspicious activity or “casing” behavior.

The expanded request suggests investigators are looking for patterns: repeated vehicle passes, the same individual appearing on multiple cameras, or unusual late-night foot traffic that could help pinpoint the suspect’s direction of travel.

Key facts at a glance

What to watch next

The next meaningful update is likely to come from the lab and from camera-footage mapping. If the glove DNA produces a usable profile, investigators can attempt comparisons to known persons of interest, pursue additional warrants, or re-interview witnesses with more specific questions. Even a partial profile can narrow the field.

Separately, investigators’ push for additional security footage may clarify whether the person seen near the home arrived on foot or by vehicle, and which routes were used leaving the area. That kind of movement reconstruction often determines whether searches intensify along certain road corridors, open desert paths, or nearby neighborhoods.

For now, officials are emphasizing two priorities: locating Nancy Guthrie safely and preserving evidence integrity while leads are evaluated.