Image: from Robbie Mouton X@mcgmouton57
By Open Chronicle Staff | Thursday, February 12, 2026
TUCSON, Ariz. – As the high-stakes search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of TODAY show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, enters its 12th day, investigators may have found a vital piece of physical evidence. On Wednesday afternoon, a pair of black latex gloves was recovered approximately a mile and a half from Guthrie’s home in the Catalina Foothills, sparking a race for forensic results.
The discovery comes at a pivotal moment for the multi-agency task force, which includes the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Sources close to the investigation confirmed to Open Chronicle that the gloves have been rushed to a laboratory for expedited DNA testing to determine if they are linked to the masked individual seen in recently recovered surveillance footage.
The Shadow on the Porch
The gloves were found in desert brush along a roadside, not far from the residence where Nancy Guthrie was last seen on January 31. The location has become the focal point of an “extensive search” involving hundreds of agents, K-9 units, and forensic specialists.
The FBI recently released grainy, black-and-white images of an “armed individual” on Guthrie’s porch the night she vanished. The figure, wearing a ski mask, a backpack, and a gun holster, was seen reaching toward the doorbell camera just moments before the system was disconnected at 1:47 a.m. Notably, the person in the footage appeared to be wearing gloves that bear a striking resemblance to those recovered this week.
A Case Built on Digital Breadcrumbs
With the victim’s whereabouts still unknown, authorities have been forced to rely on a trail of digital and forensic evidence:
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DNA Match: Early in the investigation, DNA testing confirmed that blood found on the porch of the Guthrie home belonged to Nancy, solidifying the theory that she was taken by force.
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The Pacemaker Signal: Investigators revealed that a pacemaker app on Nancy’s phone indicated a disconnection from her device at 2:28 a.m. on February 1, providing a narrow window for the abduction.
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Ransom Uncertainties: While several ransom notes demanding Bitcoin have been sent to media outlets, the FBI has yet to confirm their authenticity or receive “proof of life.”
Heightened Urgency
The urgency of the search is underscored by Nancy Guthrie’s health. According to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, Guthrie is “mentally sharp” but has “extremely limited mobility” and requires daily medication for various conditions.
“We are operating from the position that Nancy is still out there and alive,” Sheriff Nanos told reporters, though he acknowledged the growing concern as time passes. The FBI continues to offer a $50,000 reward for information leading to her recovery.
Savannah Guthrie, who has suspended her broadcasting duties to assist in the search, shared a heart-wrenching video of her mother on social media earlier today, captioned: “We will never give up on her.”