Nancy Guthrie Case Update; Who Is Carlos Palazuelos? What we know about man detained by authorities

Rio Rico, Arizona: A man named Carlos Palazuelos was detained by police south of Tucson on Tuesday in connection with the disappearance of 84‑year‑old Nancy Guthrie. Nancy is the mother of American broadcast journalist Savannah Guthrie. She went missing from her home in Catalina on January 31, 2026, and authorities are still searching for her.

Police Detain Man for Questioning in Guthrie Case

Officers stopped Carlos during what was described as a routine traffic stop. He was taken in for questioning by local police and the FBI. Officials say he is being questioned only and has not been charged with a crime.

Police also executed a search warrant at Carlos’ home in Rio Rico. Investigators removed electronic devices from the house. Law enforcement has not released further details so far.

Who Is Carlos Palazuelos?

A relative has identified the man detained as Carlos Palazuelos. His mother‑in‑law, Josefina Maddox, spoke to media about him. She said Carlos was at her home during the time Nancy disappeared.

Josefina described Carlos as a “good guy” who has no criminal record and has never been violent. She also said that Carlos did not resemble the person seen in the FBI‑released footage from Nancy’s doorbell camera.

Reports About Carlos’ Work

Some media reports say Carlos works on contract delivering packages for UPS. Other reports mention he also delivered food for services like DoorDash. Family members confirmed he drives a white van for his delivery work.

FBI and Law Enforcement Statements

FBI Director Kash Patel has said the investigation is ongoing. He stated that agents are looking at more than one person of interest, but no one has been named a suspect.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department also released a statement. It said the Evidence Response Team was carrying out a court‑authorized search in Rio Rico related to the Nancy Guthrie case. The sheriff’s office said the operation could last several hours.

Does Carlos Know Nancy Guthrie?

Josefina Maddox confirmed that her family does not know Nancy Guthrie personally. She said, “We don’t know her at all. I don’t know who she is.”

Family members also denied that Carlos was involved in any wrongdoing. They insisted he has no connection to the missing woman.

Search Continues for Nancy Guthrie

Nancy remains missing nearly five weeks after she was last seen at her home in Catalina. Law enforcement and the Guthrie family continue to urge anyone with information to come forward.

The FBI released images of a masked person of interest captured on doorbell camera footage. The public has been asked to help identify the individual. A USD 50,000 reward is offered for tips that could help find Nancy.

What Authorities Are Saying

Officials stress that no arrest has been made yet. They say Carlos is being questioned to help with the ongoing investigation. So far, there is no confirmation that he was the man seen in the FBI footage.

The investigation remains active and continues to develop.