Desperate for answers, investigators turn to Walmart for help cracking Nancy Guthrie case

Investigators in the ongoing search for 84‑year‑old Nancy Guthrie are following a trail that spans from a Walmart backpack spotted in surveillance footage to a glove recovered near her home, which recently underwent DNA testing.

Law enforcement officials say both pieces of evidence could hold critical clues in the high-profile Tucson, Arizona, case, which has left Guthrie’s family and the public desperate for answers.

FBI and local police released doorbell camera images showing a masked individual outside Guthrie’s home on the night of her disappearance. The person carried a black 25‑liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack, which Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed is sold exclusively at Walmart stores.

“This backpack is exclusive to Walmart, and we are working with Walmart management to develop further leads,” Nanos said. Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage and purchase records across Arizona in hopes of identifying potential buyers of the same backpack. Walmart has not publicly commented on the investigation.

Per NBC News, Nanos said,

We’re working with our Walmart managers all across the state to try to find out how many sales there were of that backpack in the last 20, 30 days, the last 60 days. And can we do something with that? Can we break it — maybe we’ll find a credit card or a bank card. Maybe we’ll find a video of the guy walking in.”

DNA glove analysis hits a setback

At the same time, investigators also focused on a glove found roughly two miles from Guthrie’s home, which appeared consistent with what the suspect was wearing in the video footage. DNA analysis of the glove was completed, but officials reported no matches in the FBI’s CODIS database or with DNA collected at Guthrie’s property, according to Reuters.

While the DNA results were disappointing, law enforcement has suggested that advanced forensic techniques, such as genetic genealogy, could still help narrow potential leads. The glove and backpack remain two of the most promising pieces of evidence in an otherwise elusive case.

What happened to Nancy Guthrie?

Guthrie, the mother of Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing on February 1, 2026, after bloodstains and signs of a struggle were discovered at her residence. Authorities have treated the scene as a criminal investigation and ruled out family involvement. Despite multiple tips and public appeals, her whereabouts remain unknown, and no suspect has been publicly identified.

Several ransom notes have emerged, though authorities caution that their authenticity is still under investigation. Officials are pursuing multiple leads, including forensic and digital evidence, neighborhood surveillance footage, and tracing the purchase of the Walmart backpack.

Authorities continue to urge the public to provide any relevant information and remain hopeful that the combination of DNA evidence, forensic analysis, and retail records can produce a breakthrough in the search for Nancy.