Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping
FBI Using Genealogy Testing on Glove
Published
The FBI came up dry on its DNA test of the glove found 2 miles from Nancy Guthrie‘s home, but TMZ has learned the agency is now doing genealogy testing, which has become a powerful tool in catching criminals.
The DNA on the glove did not get a hit from CODIS — the database that profiles nearly 27 million people convicted of various crimes — but genealogy testing is far broader. They’re also analyzing DNA evidence found at Nancy’s house.
The big companies — 23andMe and Ancestry.com — do not cooperate with law enforcement for privacy reasons. But smaller companies work with law enforcement, so it’s another avenue for the FBI to pursue.
Even if there’s not a direct match on a genealogy search, there’s still a path to finding a criminal. The profile could closely but not exactly resemble the target, and that could be a relative. We’re told the FBI would then look to see if someone on the family tree fits the profile — a man, between 5’9″ and 5’10” with an average build who lives in the Tucson area.
As we reported, although the Pima County Sheriff’s Dept. sent DNA to a lab in Florida, the FBI sent DNA to a lab in Arizona. Privacy laws require the feds to use a lab in the state where the item is found. Those results from the Arizona lab were used for the CODIS search.
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