Nancy Guthrie Kidnapper Should Be 'Extremely Worried' After New Evidence, Expert Says

Authorities are continuing to investigate the apparent kidnapping of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie. As the investigation continues, some new evidence has emerged, and one expert seems to think that the kidnapper should be "extremely worried."

Over the weekend, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos opened up a bit about some challenges investigators were facing regarding a DNA sample that was collected. However, despite those challenges, one expert seems to be optimistic about using DNA to ultimately find the kidnapper.

'Mixed' DNA Poses Challenges

In an episode on “NBC Nightly News” that aired Saturday, Nanos said that the DNA samples that were obtained from the house are “mixed,” meaning they contain DNA from more than one individual.

“Our lab tells us that there are challenges with it,” Nanos said. “The technology is moving so fast and in such a frenzy that they think some of this stuff will resolve itself just in a matter of weeks, months, or maybe a year.”

CeCe Moore, the chief genetic genealogist at Parabon Nanolabs, told People that this makes it more difficult to identify a potential match.

“A complex mixture is much more difficult to work with,” says Moore, who has helped law enforcement solve more than 300 cold cases using DNA and genetic genealogy. “The more people you get in that DNA (sample), particularly unknown people's DNA, the harder it is to just isolate one person's out of that.”

Kidnapper Should be 'Extremely Worried'

Even though the mixed DNA sample makes things a little more difficult, Moore sounds optimistic that it could be used to ultimately track down the kidnapper. In fact, she thinks that the kidnapper should be "extremely worried" about the fact that a DNA sample was obtained.

“If I was the kidnapper, I would be extremely worried right now, particularly if I knew there was some kind of altercation, or I knew I touched things in there,” Moore told People.

While the assailant seemed to attempt to avoid leaving DNA evidence behind while wearing gloves and a mask, Moore thinks that he still could have left some DNA traces behind.

“It looked like he may have had a bite flashlight in his mouth,” she explains. “When you see him bending over toward the camera, I think it's very possible saliva could have been left because of that."

Moore said that the assailant could have transferred his saliva onto those gloves and then onto anything he touched, like a doorknob or another surface. No matter how careful he was, Moore said it's likely he left DNA behind.

"And so he should be very concerned," Moore said. "I think it would be extremely difficult to be in a location for approximately 40 minutes and not leave your DNA behind, even with the way he was dressed."