FBI agents working on the Nancy Guthrie case may soon be sent back to their home divisions asthe search for the 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrieenters its fourth week without a suspect or significant breakthrough.
According to Newsweek, retired FBI supervisory special agent Steve Moore said the investigation has 'cooled off quite a bit' since it began on 1 February. Speaking on Brian Entin Investigates, Moore said agents on the case 'are being told that they may be going back to their divisions at least until more information comes up,' though he stressed the information was unconfirmed.
The potential shift comes as law enforcement sources toldABC Newsthat investigators believe the case may soon be handed over to a smaller, long-term task force. The Guthrie family has been briefed that certain leads have not been panning out.
At least 400 investigators have been assigned to the case around the clock. The Pima County Sheriff's Department maintains that 'there have been no changes to resources in this investigation' and pledged it will remain active 'until Nancy Guthrie is found or all leads are exhausted',Today reported.
Nearly a month after her disappearance, investigators are finding their best leads coming up empty. Partial DNA recovered at Nancy Guthrie's home in the Catalina Foothills north of Tucson remains unidentified. Technology companies and the FBI have recovered no additional video from her home security system. Investigators have been unable to connect a vehicle to the abduction.
DNA from gloves discovered approximately two miles from the property yielded no matches in CODIS, the FBI's national criminal justice database. The gloves appeared to match those worn by amasked suspect captured on Guthrie's doorbell cameraon the morning she vanished.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos toldNBC Newsthat investigators have now turned to genetic genealogy, which combines DNA analysis with genealogical records and publicly available databases. The process could take anywhere from hours to months.
'Our lab tells us that there are challenges with it, and we understand those challenges,' Nanos said. 'But our lab also knows that 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.'
REMINDER: FBI reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.The suspect is described as a male, approximately 5’9” - 5’10” tall of average build.Report tips to…pic.twitter.com/PrFkHPj9Ac
The masked individual captured on doorbell footage remains central to the investigation. The FBI described him as a man between 5 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, wearing a black 25-litre Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack sold exclusively at Walmart. Authorities are working with the retailer to track sales of the item.
Source: International Business Times UK
