The investigation into the disappearance of 84‑year‑old Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today show co‑anchor Savannah Guthrie.
Took a dramatic turn this week after law enforcement briefly detained a local delivery driver for questioning. The man was held for several hours following a traffic stop in Arizona before being released without charges, according to multiple news reports.
The search for Nancy Guthrie — who has been missing since February 1, 2026 — has drawn intense national and international attention, prompting extensive law enforcement efforts, the release of surveillance footage, public appeals from her family, and ongoing forensic investigation.
Who Was Detained and Why
On Tuesday, February 10, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop near Rio Rico, Arizona, a town roughly 60 miles south of Tucson.
During that stop, they detained a man who identified himself as Carlos Palazuelos, a local delivery driver. Investigators held him for several hours as part of their ongoing inquiry into Guthrie’s disappearance, but ultimately released him without filing any charges.
Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, have not publicly identified any suspects in the case, nor have they confirmed that Palazuelos was considered a formal suspect.
His detention was described by authorities as part of routine questioning amid a wider investigation.
Palazuelos’ Statements After Release
After being released, Palazuelos spoke to reporters outside his Rio Rico home, describing a confusing and distressing experience in the custody of law enforcement.
He told news outlets he felt he was detained “against my will”, claiming police did not inform him of the reason for his detention for more than two hours and only read him his rights after significant delay.
Palazuelos was highly emotional in his remarks, insisting repeatedly that he had no involvement in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. “I didn’t do anything,” he told local media.
“I’m innocent,” he said, recounting his frustration at being held and questioned. He added that he was unsure whether he had ever delivered a package to Guthrie’s home, saying his work as a delivery driver made it possible he might have, but that he did not know who she was before being detained.
In one interview, he said: “What the f‑‑‑ am I doing here? I didn’t do anything. I’m innocent.” He also described physical discomfort from being handcuffed during the detention.
Palazuelos stated his hope that law enforcement would find the real suspect so he could “clear my name” and reiterated his plea for authorities to pursue leads that would bring justice and answers to Guthrie’s family and the public.
Law Enforcement Search and Investigation Activities
Authorities continued to conduct extensive investigative work in connection with the Guthrie case both before and after Palazuelos’ detention and release.
On the evening of February 10, law enforcement — including the FBI’s Evidence Response Team — executed a court‑authorized search warrant at a property in Rio Rico.
According to multiple reports, investigators searched Palazuelos’ residence and vehicle, though officials have not publicly disclosed specific results from that search.
Residents near the search site told local news outlets that front and back doors of the home were damaged during the execution of the warrant. Authorities have not confirmed the extent of any damage or what, if anything, was seized during the search.
Despite the high‑profile nature of the detention and property search, law enforcement spokespeople have emphasized that the investigation remains active and ongoing.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI are continuing to gather evidence, analyze leads, and follow public tips as they work to determine what happened to Guthrie.
Background: The Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie
Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home in the Catalina Foothills area near Tucson on January 31, 2026, after being dropped off by her son‑in‑law late at night following a family dinner.
She was expected to attend a livestreamed church service the following morning but failed to appear. When friends and family visited her home later that day, she was gone, prompting a missing person report.
Law enforcement officials believe she was taken against her will in the early hours of February 1. Investigators have highlighted several troubling signs at the scene, including:
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Security footage from a doorbell camera showing a masked and armed individual tampering with the device shortly before it stopped recording.
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The abrupt disconnection of Guthrie’s pacemaker app from her phone, which occurred around the same time the camera was disabled.
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Blood matching Nancy Guthrie’s DNA found on her front porch steps by investigators.
Guthrie, who had limited mobility and relied on daily medication, was considered especially vulnerable. Her disappearance raised immediate concern both because of her age and medical needs.
The FBI and local authorities have treated the case as a criminal abduction since early in the investigation, issuing pleas for public assistance and offering a $50,000 reward for credible information leading to Guthrie’s safe recovery or the arrest of those responsible.
Surveillance Footage and Public Appeals
On February 10, the FBI released previously unrecoverable surveillance footage and still images to the public, showing an individual wearing a balaclava, gloves, a zipped jacket, and a backpack outside Guthrie’s home in the hours before her disappearance.
In the clip, the person appears to tamper with the video doorbell camera, possibly to disable it, leading to a series of investigative breakthroughs and a surge of tips to authorities.
FBI Director Kash Patel described the footage as a key piece of evidence and said it was recovered after investigators worked with private‑sector technology partners to access data that was previously inaccessible due to device removal or corruption.
Savannah Guthrie and other family members have shared the images widely on social media and in public appeals, urging anyone who recognizes the person or any aspect of the footage to contact law enforcement.
In a message posted online, the family expressed hope that Nancy is still alive and asked the public for help identifying the person seen in the video.
Despite the release of the footage and the authorization of the reward, no arrests have been made, and authorities have not identified any confirmed suspects connected to the case.
Ransom Notes and Cryptocurrency Demands
In addition to the surveillance footage, the case has involved the appearance of ransom notes sent to several media outlets.
One such demand asked for $6 million in Bitcoin, although reports indicate that the authenticity of these notes is still being evaluated by investigators.
Law enforcement has not confirmed that the ransom demands are legitimate, and there remains no verified proof of life from anyone claiming to hold Guthrie or communicating with her family’s representatives.
Some small transactions have reportedly been made to cryptocurrency addresses cited in the ransom notes, but officials have not disclosed details, and it is unclear whether these transactions relate directly to the case or to speculative outside activity.
Reaction From DoorDash and the Public
Following Palazuelos’ arrest and release, DoorDash, one of the companies the driver had worked for, issued a statement acknowledging reports that a person linked to the Guthrie case had been a delivery driver.
The company said it was actively investigating the situation and had reached out to law enforcement, offering support for the critical investigation. In the statement, DoorDash expressed solidarity with the Guthrie family during “this heart‑wrenching time.”
Across social media and the press, there has been widespread discussion and speculation about Palazuelos’ detention and its relevance to the broader case.
Many people emphasized that law enforcement routinely interviews individuals who may have direct or indirect connections to a missing person as a matter of procedure, and the release of Palazuelos without charges underscores that he was not identified as a suspect at this time.
Law enforcement agencies have continued to encourage anyone with relevant information — even seemingly minor details — to come forward.
The Investigation Continues
The release of surveillance footage, the detention and release of a delivery driver, and public appeals by family members and law enforcement illustrate just how complex and ongoing the Nancy Guthrie disappearance case remains.
Investigators continue to follow up on tips, review forensic evidence, analyze digital data, and examine every lead that could shed light on what happened to the 84‑year‑old in the early hours of February 1. atch This includes surveillance footage analysis, neighborhood canvassing, property searches near Rio Rico, and meticulous review of all communications and digital activity connected to Guthrie’s devices and security systems.
As the case enters its eleventh day without a definitive resolution, law enforcement and the Guthrie family remain hopeful that public cooperation and ongoing investigative advances will ultimately lead to Nancy’s safe return or to a conviction of those responsible.
