The FBI has confirmed the use of Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) in the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie.
Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson, Arizona home in the early hours of February 1, with suspicions that she was taken against her will.
At 84 years old, Nancy is the mother of TODAY co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, who has since publicly appealed for her mother’s safe return.
By February 15, the search for Nancy had continued into its third week. While the authorities have cleared Nancy’s family as suspects, they have not identified any suspects or persons of interest in the case.
On February 11, surveillance footage was released showing a hooded individual at Nancy’s front door, captured by her doorbell camera. The FBI has also provided a description of this individual.
Investigators found a glove within a two-mile radius of Nancy’s home, and on February 17, the FBI shared with Fox News Digital the latest technological advancements being applied to analyze the glove in an effort to locate the suspected kidnapper.
According to the New York Post, approximately 16 items were collected around Nancy’s residence.
In an interview with Fox News, an FBI spokesperson stated: “The one with the DNA profile recovered is different and appears to match the gloves of the suspect in the surveillance video.”
The FBI then utilized CODIS, the Combined DNA Index System, to attempt identification of a suspect from the glove.
This system supports criminal justice DNA databases and enables labs to compare DNA profiles across various jurisdictions, thereby aiding in linking crimes, offenders, and missing persons.
The National DNA Index System (NDIS) reportedly contained over 20 million profiles as of 2021, according to the FBI.
CODIS, recognized as one of the most effective investigative tools available to US law enforcement, was instrumental in identifying and arresting Bryan Kohberger, who was sentenced to life without parole for the murder of four University of Idaho students in 2022.
However, the DNA from the glove found near Nancy’s home did not match any profiles in the CODIS database.
Authorities now plan to employ Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) on the glove, in addition to other DNA samples discovered inside Nancy’s home.
According to Forensic Education, IGG involves determining relationships through shared DNA.
The technology has been lauded for revolutionizing cold case investigations within a few short years.
Forensic Education further explained: “When combined with traditional genealogy research, potential identifications of unknown individuals can be made to help in unidentified human remains (UHR) cases or to develop leads in unsolved violent crimes.”