Authorities are still searching for the ‘Today’ show host’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, 84, who was last seen on Saturday, Jan. 31
The man who was detained by police in the case of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, spoke out after his release.
Late on Tuesday, Feb. 10, police detained a man who identified himself as Carlos Palazuelos of Rio Rico, Ariz., about 60 miles south of Tucson, where Nancy, 84, lives.
Nancy was last seen going into her garage after being dropped off by her family at 9:48 p.m. on Sat., Jan. 31.
She is believed to have been kidnapped in the early morning hours of Sun., Feb. 1, authorities said.
On Tuesday night, Palazuelos spoke to reporters outside his house, saying, “I didn’t do anything,” KVOA reports.
“I hope they get the suspect, because I’m not it,” he said. “I hope they get the suspect so I can clear my name.”
Palazuelos was detained after a traffic stop while he was working. He said he has no idea why he was stopped or who Nancy or her daughter, Today show host Savannah Guthrie, 54, are.
“No,” he told reporters, shrugging his shoulders. “No. That’s the problem. I don’t know anything.”
He said authorities were following him so he “pulled up on them,” he said in a video on X posted by Andres Gutierrez at CBS News.
Asked what they said to him, he replied, “Nothing. Really, nothing. They just said, ‘Stop moving, what’s your name?’ Carlos. That was it. Pulled me into the cop car.”
When they finally told him this had to do with a kidnapping, he said he thought, “What the f— am I doing here? I didn’t do anything. I’m innocent.”
He said he doesn’t follow the news or watch the Today show, and he was completely shocked at being detained.
He said authorities didn’t ask him any questions, but searched his car and home.
His detainment came after authorities released surveillance photos and video footage of an armed individual on Nancy’s front porch.
The images and video the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department posted to social media show a person wearing a ski mask, a zip-up jacket, gloves, and carrying a backpack approach the porch of Nancy’s house.
One of the videos FBI Director Kash Patel posted shows the person appearing to tamper with the Nest camera at Nancy’s front door. Another video shows the person holding a flashlight in their mouth and then covering the camera with branches.
In an Instagram post minutes after the new photos were released, Savannah, 54, shared the images and wrote: “We believe she is still alive. Bring her home.”
Shortly after,Savannah shared a second post on social media featuring video of the individual. “Someone out there recognizes this person,” she wrote. “We believe she is still out there. Bring her home.”
Law enforcement launched a massive investigation into Nancy’s disappearance, saying they believe she was taken against her will, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said at a press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
A trail of what appears to be blood was seen on the front steps of Nancy’s home that authorities confirmed is hers.
The potential kidnappers set an initial deadline for 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, and second deadline for 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9.
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Savannah has been in Arizona with her family as they wait for answers about Nancy.
