A man who was taken into custody for questioning Tuesday evening in connection with the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, has since been released, according to reporting by The New York Times.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has not publicly confirmed reports about the individual’s release.
Authorities had stopped the man during a traffic stop earlier Tuesday after the FBI circulated video and still images showing a masked person appearing to interfere with Nancy Guthrie’s security cameras shortly before she was abducted.
A resident of the house that law enforcement searched Tuesday night in Rio Rico, Arizona, told NBC News/Telemundo that he was the person who had been questioned and identified himself as Carlos Palazuelos. Speaking in Spanish, Palazuelos said officers executed a search warrant at his home and caused damage to the front and back doors. He told the outlet that law enforcement officials told him he resembled the person seen in the security footage from Nancy Guthrie’s property. Palazuelos said he works as a delivery driver but could not remember whether he had ever made a delivery to Nancy’s home.
Police told NBC on Wednesday morning that the search of the Rio Rico property was finished and that the probe into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is ongoing.
Nancy’s family reported her missing on Feb. 1. She was last seen the evening before, at about 9:45 p.m., after having dinner at her daughter Annie Guthrie’s home in Tucson, Arizona.
Since Nancy’s abduction, multiple news organizations have reported receiving letters that appear to be ransom notes; the FBI has been examining those submissions as part of the investigation.
The FBI has also released additional images related to the case, noting its continued collaboration with local authorities and private-sector partners to recover any footage that might have been lost from Nancy Guthrie’s home.
On Monday, Savannah Guthrie posted a video on Instagram appealing for public help as the family enters “another week of this nightmare.” She said she and her family believe their mother is still alive and urged anyone with information to contact law enforcement. “We need your help,” the TODAY anchor said. “Law enforcement is working tirelessly, around the clock trying to bring her home, trying to find her. She was taken, and we don’t know where, and we need your help.”
Savannah asked followers to report anything unusual they see or hear, stating the family is in a desperate hour and imploring people to come forward with any tips. She also thanked people for their prayers, saying the family feels those prayers are supporting their mother in this dark time.
Anyone with information about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is asked to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900.
Hi, I’m Emily, a passionate and dedicated member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a keen eye for detail and a love for writing, I ensure that the latest celebrity news, major economic trends, and helpful tips for your home are presented in the most engaging and informative way possible. Fun fact: During a particularly exciting news story, I once managed to finish an article in record time, fueled solely by copious amounts of coffee and pure adrenaline!
