Cold-Case Detective Breaks Down Nancy Guthrie Case — Reveals Crucial Evidence

Almost two months into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, a homicide and cold case detective with the Fort Wayne Police Department told The New York Post that the case remains active, and he is optimistic authorities will identify the abductor.

“Nancy’s case is still very fresh,” said Brian Martin.

The law enforcement veteran noted that DNA evidence recovered from the 84-year-old’s home could play a crucial role in the FBI’s investigation. “I’m sure they have an item of evidence which was probably at the scene and was foreign, meaning this is something that would not have been in her house, and this was something that was probably left by the suspect,” he said.

Guthrie was abducted from her Tucson home on the night of January 31. The following morning, police discovered blood on the porch, and Ring doorbell footage captured images of a masked individual.

Amid speculation that the investigation has stalled, Martin claimed that the case is far from cold. “Often agencies will not consider a case cold until it has sat inactive with no leads or evidence developments after three years. I would not consider the Nancy Guthrie (case to be cold) now,” he said.

Martin previously helped solve the decades-old murder of 8-year-old April Tinsley, leading to the arrest of John D. Miller more than 30 years after the crime.

Using genetic genealogy alongside traditional investigative work, authorities were able to identify the suspect in just over six weeks. “We were pushing 30 years of investigative techniques, good old-fashioned police work. Then with the advances of genetic genealogy, in just over six weeks, we cleared the Tinsley case,” he said.

The Guthrie family issued a fresh statement on March 22, expressing gratitude for the continued support from the Tucson community.

“We are all family now,” they said.

The family believes Tucsonans and the greater Southern Arizona community may hold the key to solving the case. “Someone knows something. It’s possible a member of this community has information that they do not even realize is significant,” the statement read.

They specifically asked people to revisit their memories and records from key dates, including January 31, the early hours of February 1, and the evening of January 11. “We desperately ask this community for renewed attention to our mom’s case – please consult camera footage, journal notes, text messages, observations or conversations that in retrospect may hold significance. No detail is too small. It may be the key,” the statement continued.

“We miss our mom with every breath. We cannot grieve; we can only ache and wonder. Our focus is solely on finding her and bringing her home.”

The statement was signed by Camron and Kristine Guthrie, Annie and Tommaso Cioni, and Savannah Guthrie and Michael.