Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield

Episode: Shocking Find Inside Nancy's Home & Clues About Mystery Perp | Nancy Guthrie Missing Day 12

Date: February 13, 2026
Host: Ashleigh Banfield
Summary by: Podcast Summarizer AI

Overview

In this gripping episode, veteran crime journalist Ashleigh Banfield dives into day 12 of the Nancy Guthrie missing persons investigation, dissecting new developments and pivotal clues with her signature irreverent, incisive style. The focus: the dramatic discovery of a glove inside Nancy’s home, rising tensions between local law enforcement and the FBI, forensic breakthroughs at the scene, new details on a suspect caught on camera, and mounting public and media speculation.

Key Developments & Discussion Points

1. The “Other” Glove: A Major Forensic Breakthrough

• A glove was found inside Nancy Guthrie’s house by investigators, separate from the glove found on the side of the highway the day before.

• The glove was sent for forensic testing—not to the FBI’s Quantico lab, but to a private lab in Florida, leading to backlash and political sniping.

• Media reported the sheriff was blocking the FBI from key evidence by sending the glove elsewhere. Ashleigh challenges this, sharing insights from a seasoned FBI source (Maureen O’Connell) who supports using high-quality private labs.

  “Gloves are a mine of information, right? There’s so much information in a glove…you sweat in them and in your sweat is your DNA.”
  — Ashleigh Banfield [06:39]

• The lab may be DNA Labs International, known for solving major cases like the Colonial Parkway murders.

  “She [Maureen O’Connell] said to me…if they went to DNA Labs International, Deerfield Beach, Florida, with that glove— they’re good. They’re really good.”
  — Ashleigh Banfield [09:43]

• Multiple gloves are now being tested from different locations.

2. Sheriff vs. FBI Drama: Setting the Record Straight

• Reports alleged the sheriff’s department was at odds with the FBI, keeping them from the evidence.

• Mary Coleman, local anchor and recipient of an alleged ransom email, got the sheriff to clarify:

  “There’s been no evidence blocked in this case…the department did want all evidence submitted to the same lab versus multiple labs.”
  — Sheriff to Mary Coleman [09:45, paraphrased]

• A federal source said $200,000 has been spent sending items for private lab testing—Ashleigh notes this is justified when a life is at stake.

• The sheriff also accepted responsibility for delays in bringing in federal authorities.

3. Crime Scene Forensics: The White Tent

• A forensic white tent was erected at Nancy’s front entrance for about an hour—investigators brought specialized video and measurement equipment, likely for high-res footprint and height analysis.

• A new suspect description was released post-tent:

  “A male, 5’9” to 5’10”, average build.”
  — Ashleigh Banfield [24:15]

• Photogrammetry (using video images and scale objects) was likely used.

• The white tent team included an expert from the Coburger case, highlighting the FBI’s collaborative resources.

4. Suspect, Backpacks, and Camera Footage

• The FBI confirmed the suspect’s backpack is a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack commonly sold at Walmart.

• Authorities are methodically checking Walmart records and security tapes for local purchases.

• A “second backpack man” spotted five miles away was investigated and quickly ruled out based on timeline and image analysis.

  “If you don’t do the reversing…that perpetrator at Nancy Guthrie’s home, it looked light [in night vision] because it’s black.”
  — Ashleigh Banfield [29:10]

• Camera Timeline Confusion:

  • Cameras tampered with at 1:47am; criminal captured on doorbell cam at 2:12am.
  • Multiple cameras (“Nest cams”) were smashed; glass fragments were found beneath a cam.

• Attempted Cam Removal:

  • Analysis suggests the perpetrator tried to pull the camera off using shrubbery rather than simply covering it.

5. Neighborhood, Law Enforcement Coverage & Reward

• Pima County is vast: “The size of Rhode Island and Connecticut combined.”

• 13,000 FBI tips and 18,000 to the sheriff’s office have been logged since Nancy’s disappearance.

• FBI reward doubled to $100,000, which Ashleigh explains is meant to spur more actionable tips from hesitant witnesses.

  “Weirdly enough, that will generate more tips just by boosting the reward.”
  — Ashleigh Banfield [22:05]

• Brian Enten’s “ride along” conveyed how confusing, twisty, and unlit Nancy’s neighborhood is, suggesting the perpetrator likely knew the area.

  “These roads are twisty and turny... Gives you an idea of how confusing... it is in here…whoever came in here to do this to Nancy, knew where they were going.”
  — Brian Enten [21:26]

6. The Ransom Notes Circus & Social Media

• There have now been three “ransom” or extortion notes received by media, all dubious and likely scams.
• No credible sign a ransom demand has been made directly to the Guthrie family.
• The latest scam note uses ominous language (“final outreach,” “angry they're not being taken seriously”) but Ashleigh doubts its credibility.

7. Camera Canvassing and Investigative Methods

• FBI asked all neighbors within two miles to provide security cam footage from Jan 1 to Feb 2, 2026—including anything unusual.

• Ashleigh questions how thoroughly neighbors can review such vast footage themselves, suggests police may need to step in for review.

  “What am I looking for? Am I looking for... a car or a person? And what do I do when I find it?”
  — Ashleigh Banfield [37:14]

• Frustration over neighborhood access: Compared to Idaho’s tight lockdown after the University murders, Nancy’s home was quickly reopened, potentially compromising forensic evidence (e.g., in the driveway).

8. Forensic Details and Technological Angles

• DNA testing could reveal not just a suspect’s identity but also gender, ethnicity, and other traits.
• Speculation continues over Nancy’s pacemaker and mobile phone connectivity—could low-range Bluetooth “pings” aid in locating her or her device?

9. Human Angle & Community Response

• Nancy’s daughter Savannah posted heartfelt family videos, vowing to never give up hope.

  “We will never give up on her. Thank you for your prayers and hope.”
  — Savannah Guthrie, via Instagram [36:15]

• Ashleigh commends the true crime community’s crowdsourcing power, referencing their role in the Gabby Petito case.

Notable Quotes

• On glove evidence:

  “Gloves are a mine of information... you sweat in them and in your sweat is your DNA.” – Ashleigh Banfield [06:39]

• On investigative patience:

  “12 days is not very long... It is an eternity for the Guthrie family...But 12 days to solve a crime is nothing.” – Ashleigh Banfield [11:40]

• On private forensic labs:

  “These private labs are good, so we shouldn’t shit on anybody for using them.” – Ashleigh Banfield [10:58]

• Brian Enten’s neighborhood assessment:

  "These roads are twisty and turny... I have to put the address to my hotel in my GPS because I can never quite figure out how to get out..." – Brian Enten [21:26]

• On law enforcement scrutiny:

  “It’s hard doing it under the microscope, and it’s hard when there’s this many reporters… It’s a woman’s life at stake.” – Ashleigh Banfield [11:21]

Timestamps for Essential Segments

• [01:20] Main episode begins, Ashleigh Banfield intro
• [03:56] Discovery and handling of the glove evidence
• [09:30] Lab controversy and FBI/Sheriff dynamics
• [12:03] Police department staffing, use of outside labs
• [18:08] The vastness of Pima County and tips volume
• [21:02] Brian Enten’s neighborhood drive-along
• [22:28] FBI reward doubled, psychology of public tips
• [24:10] Details on the forensic tent and suspect description
• [27:08] The role of private labs in major casework
• [29:25] Backpack details, Walmart strategy
• [32:00] Timeline/camera sabotage, importance of evidence
• [35:07] Camera sabotage methodology and glass evidence
• [37:14] FBI asks neighbors for days of security footage
• [40:00] Frustration over scene access and evidence preservation
• [43:15] Technology angles—pacemaker/phone connectivity
• [47:38] Ashleigh’s closing thoughts, call to true crime community

Memorable Moments

• Discovery of a glove with DNA potential inside Nancy's home
• Sheriff's controversial decision to use a private lab sparking media debate
• Release of a detailed suspect description after forensic tent work
• Brian Enten’s real-time reporting demonstrating the difficulty of navigating Nancy’s remote neighborhood
• Insight about criminal’s apparent knowledge of the landscape (e.g., avoiding rattlesnakes at night)
• Exposure of multiple scam “ransom” communications exploiting the investigation
• Personal and poignant social outreach from Nancy's daughter Savannah

Conclusion

Ashleigh Banfield swings between hard-nosed reporting and human empathy, clarifying rumors, interviewing experts, and contextualizing why each new piece of evidence matters. The episode offers a comprehensive, up-to-the-moment portrayal of an evolving case—balancing hope, skepticism, and the reality of complex, high-pressure investigations.

“The truth isn’t just serious, it’s drop dead serious.”
— Ashleigh Banfield

For those following the Nancy Guthrie case, this episode is a crucial, nuanced resource for understanding the latest developments, law enforcement challenges, and the personal stakes at the heart of an unsolved, urgent mystery.