A former FBI agent has weighed in on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, claiming there is one critical piece of evidence in the case that “no one is talking about".
The 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie was last seen on January 31 after taking an Uber to visit family for dinner and games.
That evening, she was dropped off at her home in Pima County, Arizona, where she lives alone. Surveillance footage shows her garage door opening and closing shortly after she arrived.
Hours later, on February 1, her doorbell camera was disconnected.
Motion-detection software recorded that a person appeared on camera, but no corresponding video footage was available.
It wasn’t until 11:56AM that Nancy’s family went to check on her and realized she was missing.
She was reported missing later that day after failing to attend a weekly livestream church service with friends.
Gloves Recovered Inside The Home
On Thursday (February 12), the Pima County Sheriff’s Office announced that investigators had recovered new evidence in the case, including gloves.
Authorities stated that as 'part of the investigative process, all viable evidence is submitted for analysis,' according to PEOPLE.
But retired FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer says the location of one particular item is what stands out most.
She shared that no one is 'talking about the most important lead in this case,' which is that the glove 'being tested' was found inside the 84-year-old's house.
"This is huge. Recall the sheriff said early-on that there was an issue with the Tucson lab and they were sending DNA to the Phoenix lab," she continued.
"The FBI has great sophistication in the area of DNA analysis.
"Yes, I wish they would have brought in the FBI earlier. Yes, it's mind boggling that they did not take that front door mat and nest holder earlier and measure for height and foot size right away, but here we are," she added.
Her comments suggest potential investigative missteps early on, while also highlighting the importance of advanced forensic testing moving forward.
Blood Droplets Paint A Disturbing Scene
In addition to the recovered gloves, forensic evidence outside Guthrie’s home has raised serious concerns.
Pictures show blood droplets on the ground in front of her front door and extending into the driveway. Law enforcement has confirmed through DNA analysis that the blood belongs to Nancy.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden reviewed the images and explained what the pattern could indicate.
“Nancy Guthrie is bleeding from some area, either the hands or the face,” Baden told Fox News Digital.
“The nature of the blood spots with little pale centers or donut shapes are typical for drops that come from the nose or mouth, because they’re mixed with air.”
“That means she’s coughing up blood or dripping from the nose.
"Otherwise, there would be a dripping from a cut from above, possibly from the hands or face," he added.
Baden claimed that the droplets appear to show that Guthrie either could not or did not attempt to stop the bleeding as she moved from the porch toward the driveway.
“This blood dropped onto the porch area during an abduction,” he continued.
“They indicate that it did not occur by innocent means...They happened not in a normal, innocent way where it could be covered up or have iodine and bandages put on it."
He emphasized that the location and characteristics of the droplets are important. “These are not innocent droplets.
"From the shape, number of droplets and the place of the droplets outside the house on the porch, they are entirely consistent and indicative of occurring during an abduction.”
FBI Offers Reward As Investigation Continues
Despite the mounting forensic evidence, police have not identified any suspects or persons of interest.
A man named Carlos Palazuelos, from Rio Rico, Arizona, was detained on Tuesday (February 10), after a traffic stop about 60 miles south of Tucson, but he was released.
In a statement, the FBI said it continues to request assistance from the public and is even offering a reward.
“We appreciate the assistance and support we have received from the Tucson community.
The FBI continues to offer a $50,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie. You can help by submitting tips to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI,” the agency said.