Nancy Guthrie Update: FBI May Turn to Specialized Lab for DNA Assistance

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing for 80 days since the suspected abduction from her Tucson-area home on Feb. 1.

DNA evidence recovered at the scene by the Pima County Sheriff's Department was initially sent to DNA Labs International, a private lab located in Florida. The evidence finally made its way over to the FBI earlier this week.

Now, the FBI is believed to be targeting San Francisco-based lab Astrea Forensics to conduct its investigation.

Astrea Forensics is the lab that helped crack the Gilgo Beach serial killer case. Earlier this month, Rex Heuermann pleaded guilty to the murder of eight women after groundbreaking DNA evidence collected from rootless hair samples emerged.

Genetic Genealogist CeCe Moore Weighs In

CeCe Moore, one of the United States' leading genetic genealogists, is confident that the FBI will utilize Astrea Forensics in its ongoing search for Guthrie.

"I am pretty confident that they will want to use the lab that they have been extremely successful with, which is Astrea," Moore told Fox News. "DLI has been working to refine their own rootless hair analysis, but I haven't seen any successful cases from them yet."

Astrea Forensics developed a DNA profile from the rootless hair evidence in the Heuermann case. Moore said she's been personally involved with six cases in which the lab successfully produced similar results.

"The FBI used them for the Gilgo case," Moore added. "So they have a lot of confidence in Astrea.

"Sending it to Astrea, where there is a proven track record, is by far the safest option."

FBI Says It Requested DNA Evidence 2 Months Ago

Ben Williamson, the assistant director of public affairs for the FBI, said the bureau asked for access to the DNA evidence weeks ago. The Pima County Sheriff's Department instead sent the hair samples to the Florida-based lab.

"This is not new evidence or information," Williamson wrote in a public statement on Monday. "FBI asked to test this DNA 2 months ago with the same technology we’ve always had — when the local sheriff instead sent it to a private lab. Any further developments we will share as soon as appropriate."