Nancy Guthrie Case: Sheriff's Department Releases Statement On Latest Physical Evidence
As the search for Nancy Guthrie has continued into another week, the authorities are still looking for any leads that could help them find Savannah Guthrie's missing mother. As observers have also been following the case from afar, there has been a lot of interest in any physical evidence found in connection with the case. Now, the Pima County Sheriff's Department has issued a discouraging update on the most recent potential evidence.
Sheriff’s Department Clarifies Backpack Evidence in Nancy Guthrie Case
Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
On February 23, 2026, the Pima County Sheriff's Department released a statement on the status of an investigation into a backpack found near Nancy Guthrie's home. A spokesperson revealed that after examination, the item appeared to be a dead end in the kidnapping probe. "After reviewing the bag and its contents, it does not appear that this is a viable lead for the investigation."
The Authorities provided three reasons why the backpack won't advance the search for Guthrie. First, it doesn't appear to be the same brand as the one the suspect was seen wearing in the doorbell camera footage. Second, it "appears to have been outside for much longer than three weeks." Finally, a piece of identification found inside it was linked to a minor.
Volunteers discovered the backpack while searching the area near Nancy Guthrie's home, and it was handed over to a deputy upon its discovery. On February 12, 2026, the FBI office in Phoenix released information about the backpack that the suspect is believed to be wearing in the doorbell camera footage. It is a 25-liter black Ozark Trail-brand backpack that is sold exclusively at Walmart.
Other Physical Evidence Also Yielded No Breakthroughs
The backpack isn't the only recent lead that has fizzled out. A black glove that was recovered about two miles from Nancy Guthrie's home didn't help authorities identify who might have taken her. While speaking to Fox News, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos stated that DNA taken from the recovered glove didn't lead to a hit when tested against the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database.
“The DNA on the glove that was found two miles away was submitted for CODIS, and I just heard that CODIS had no hits.”
Nanos also told the outlet that DNA evidence found inside Nancy Guthrie's home didn't lead to a match either.
“There’s no match to the DNA at the house.”