FBI visits gun shops with 40 name list and photos, as sheriff clears family in Nancy Guthrie case

The FBI has been actively visiting gun shops across Tucson, presenting a list of 40 names and corresponding photographs. Agents are asking employees if they recognize any of these individuals as having visited the shops or purchased firearms. This indicates a focused effort to narrow down potential suspects and investigate any connections to weapon acquisition.

Host Brian Entin confirmed this new reporting, stating that FBI agents showed up with 'a list of 40 names and also 40 pictures' to gun shop employees to see 'if any of those people have been inside the gun shop and two if any of them have purchased a weapon.'

In a rare and definitive statement for an active investigation, the Pima County Sheriff's Office publicly cleared Nancy Guthrie's entire family, including her siblings and their spouses, as suspects. The sheriff emphasized their cooperation and described them as victims, condemning any suggestions to the contrary as 'cruel'. This development significantly shifts the investigative focus away from the family.

The host read the sheriff's statement: 'To be clear, the Guthrie family, to include all siblings and spouses, has been cleared as possible suspects in this case. The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are victims in this case.'

DNA collected from a glove found near Nancy Guthrie's home, which the FBI confirmed matches the suspect's glove in surveillance footage, is experiencing 'unnecessary delays' in being entered into the FBI's CODIS database. The delay stems from the Pima County Sheriff's Office sending the DNA to a private lab in Florida instead of directly to the FBI's Quantico facility. The FBI does not accept direct submissions from private labs, requiring the data to first be sent back to Arizona state labs for upload before it can be shared with the FBI for CODIS entry, adding significant time.

Libby Dean's reporting stated: 'The decision to send the glove with DNA to a private lab in Florida is causing what one source familiar with the case calls unnecessary delays in getting the DNA entered into the FBI's Kodus database. That's because the FBI does not accept DNA submissions directly from private labs.'

Forensic experts detailed the meticulous process of collecting DNA, particularly 'touch DNA' (skin cells, sweat), from crime scenes and items like the suspect's glove. They explained that while gloves cover fingerprints, DNA can easily transfer from the suspect's skin, saliva (e.g., from holding a flashlight in the mouth), or other items onto the gloves and then throughout the house. The time elapsed before the glove was found and environmental factors can complicate analysis and later defense arguments.

Morgan Lane explained, 'we're looking for the biological evidence more like trace DNA. So, um, skin cells, sweat, things like that are left behind inside of the glove.' Maureen O'Connell added, 'if he's holding it and just to get it in there right a couple times, he's gonna have his saliva all over those gloves and the the transfer for that could be pretty significant.'

Both forensic experts expressed concern over the Pima County Sheriff's Office's decision to quickly clear Nancy Guthrie's house as a crime scene before the FBI had a chance to fully process it. They emphasized the importance of maintaining scene integrity, especially when federal agencies are involved, to avoid the need for additional warrants and to ensure all evidence is collected systematically for stronger court presentation.

Morgan Lane stated, 'it's hard cuz it it takes a lot of times, you know, days to get more information. And so when they're initially processing what they believe is maybe a missing person or um possibly suspicious, maybe there wasn't as much efforts that went in initially.' Maureen O'Connell added, 'in this particular instance, I think they cleared it way too soon, especially since the FBI was coming in.'