Nancy Guthrie Case: Expert Identifies Key DNA Evidence That Could Crack the Mystery

As the investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance has entered its 11th week without any significant breakthrough, an expert said that DNA could still be the key to solving the case. Detectives found DNA evidence at Guthrie’s home early in the investigation; however, it has not yielded results so far because it is a mixed sample.

Genetic genealogist CeCe Moore has suggested that investigators return to Guthrie’s home to collect more samples. In a recent interview with NewsNation, Moore said the masked man seen tampering with Guthrie’s doorbell camera was holding a light in his mouth.

The house could still contain traces of his saliva, which could ultimately lead to the suspect’s identification. “It’s certainly possible there is still some DNA there, and in particular, I really do think that saliva is the most likely, and that is because of what appeared to be that bite flashlight in his mouth,” Moore said.

“Somebody wrote to me [and that person] has used one of those and agreed with me that it would produce a lot of saliva, and it would be very difficult not to leave some of that behind,” she said.

As for why investigators have not been able to find clues despite collecting samples previously, Moore said that because DNA is invisible, it is extremely difficult to identify and locate at a crime scene.

The expert said detectives are not at fault here. “They may not have swabbed exactly the right thing to find that individual’s DNA — through no fault of their own — just because it’s hard to know, in a house like that, where would you even start other than the obvious places?” Moore said.

Moore said that because Guthrie’s home has already been returned to her family, it might be difficult to gather new evidence. “The only issue to me would be more if there was saliva on the ground, for instance, or a rootless hair that could also solve the case. It could have been tracked back out, could end up on the bottom of someone’s shoe,” she said.

However, she still believes that going back to the crime scene might help investigators identify Guthrie’s kidnapper. “If there is something that is still on a surface, then I think it’s still possible that they could get that person’s DNA if they haven’t done that already. Now, of course, this is a little bit of a Hail Mary, but I think everything in this case right now, based on at least what we know, appears to be that at this point,” Moore said.

Guthrie went missing from her home on the night of February 1. About two weeks later, the Federal Bureau of Investigation released a video of a masked suspect who was seen disconnecting Guthrie’s doorbell camera. It has been about two months since the footage was released, but the suspect has not been identified or arrested.