A University of California, Los Angeles professor has expressed concerns about the Nancy Guthrie case, as the FBI turns to cutting-edge DNA technology to locate Savannah Guthrie's missing mother.
The FBI recently received a DNA sample collected at Nancy's residence in Arizona from a private Florida laboratory that partnered with the Pima County Sheriff's Department.
FBI agents are using advanced forensic techniques on the evidence, hoping to crack the case.
'They are obviously running out of options.'
A criminal justice professor at UCLA stated that the FBI's decision to re-examine existing evidence with newer technology leaves a clue.
'When a law enforcement agency of that size starts farming out old samples to multiple labs, that tells you the original leads they chased have gone cold,' the professor said.
'They're not finding new evidence, honestly, they're trying to squeeze more out of what they already have.'
The new DNA is a mixed sample, which means it contains a genetic makeup from more than one person.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos had admitted that the new evidence presents major challenges for his department.
'You can have many contributors in a single sample and spend enormous resources, including both time and money, trying to isolate just one usable sample profile,' the professor said.
