THE mother-in-law of the man who was detained in the search for Nancy Guthrie has said authorities asked her a disturbing question as they stormed their home.
Josefina said her cell phone was snatched by detectives after her son-in-law Carlos Palazuelos, 36, was held in cuffs for several hours and grilled over Nancy’s kidnapping.
The mother-in-law of the man who was detained in the search for Nancy Guthrie has spoken outCredit: NewsNation
Carlos Palazuelos maintained his innocence after he was released by authoritiesCredit: CBS
Cops are still looking for Savannah Guthrie’s mom over 10 days after her disappearanceCredit: Instagram/savannahguthrie
Palazuelos maintained his innocence after he was released and sent back to his home in Rio Rico, Arizona, about 60 miles from Nancy’s property in Tucson.
His detainment came just hours after investigators released terrifying footage of a masked and armed man on the 84-year-old mom’s doorstep the night she was taken.
Palazuelos said he had no clue who the Guthries were, and had never even heard of Today anchor Savannah because he doesn’t watch the news.
At one point in the night, Josefina spoke with reporters, and said she also had no idea why detectives were searching her home.
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“They already asked us a lot of questions about him. Like I said, I have nothing to hide,” she told NewsNation.
“You can go in my house. You can search anything you want. There’s nothing to hide.
“I don’t know the lady, I don’t know about the lady. I saw her [missing] on Facebook.”
Josefina said detectives had been going in and out of her home and were taking pictures.
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She was shown the surveillance video taken at Nancy’s property, but insisted Palazuelos didn’t own any of the clothes the intruder was wearing.
“It doesn’t look like him. No, not at all,” she said.
Josefina said Palazuelos was delivering for DoorDash with her daughter and their children when he was pulled over by cops.
She explained that their family was staying at her place because they were evicted, and were waiting on a tax refund to get the necessary cash to move out.
Palazuelos said he’s a delivery driver who works in Tucson, and suggested he might have dropped a package off at Nancy’s home at some point.
However, he stressed he has no connection with the missing woman, even exclaiming at one point, “What the f**k am I doing here?”
“I didn’t do anything, to be honest, I’m innocent,” he said.
What we know about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance
Today host Savannah Guthrie’s mom is missing after she was abducted from her home Tucson, Arizona on February 1
Blood drops were seen on the front steps of her home
Nancy’s son-in-law was the last person to see her as he dropped her off following a family dinner
Local and federal authorities initially admitted they had no suspects, and no leads
Multiple news outlets have been sent ransom letters that contain specific details about Nancy’s home and clothing
The first ransom deadline passed five days after the abduction, and a second deadline which was said to have “much more serious” conditions also passed
911 reports were made of a suspected trespasser lurking in a neighbor’s yard weeks before the abduction
Cops seized a car from Nancy’s home and removed a roof camera
Eerie new footage was released showing a masked and armed intruder at the home
A delivery driver was detained in connection to Nancy’s disappearance, but he was released hours later
MYSTERY DEEPENS
There’s been no sign of Nancy since she vanished in the early morning hours of February 1 following a family dinner with her daughter and son-in-law.
She was reported missing by her distraught family later that morning after a parishioner at her church said she never showed for service.
Authorities admitted they were at a standstill with no suspects and no leads until they uncovered surveillance capturing a masked intruder.
They’ve sparked an urgent race to identify the subject, and even Savannah has posted the video begging for help.
Top security expert Brian Fitzgibbons with USPA Nationwide Security told The U.S. Sun that investigators will be looking at the apparent height and weight of the subject.
“They will likely look to enhance the images shown to the public and get better depictions of his eyes, and while this may not be able to identify a suspect, it will help with comparison when one is developed,” he said.
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“He is wearing bulky clothing to hide his body shape and thick rubber gloves, a full face mask – this was not a crime of opportunity and was not done in haste.”
Fitzgibbons pointed out the subject’s body language, and said his slow, careful movements could prove the kidnapping was planned well in advance.
Timeline of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her home on February 1, 2026.
Timeline:
January 31: Nancy is last seen by her family
5:32pm: Nancy travels to her daughter’s home for dinner, about 11 minutes from her own house.
9:48pm: Family members drop off Nancy Guthrie at her home in Tucson. Her garage door closes two minutes later.
February 1: Nancy is reported missing and a search begins
1:47am: Nancy’s doorbell camera disconnects
2:12am: Camera software detects a person moving in range of the camera. There is no video, and Nancy does not have a storage description.
2:28am: Nancy’s pacemaker app disconnects from her phone, which is later found still at her house.
Around 11am: A parishioner at Nancy’s church calls the mom’s children and says she failed to show up for service.
11:56am: Family members arrive at Nancy’s house to check on her.
12:03pm: The family calls 911 to report Nancy missing.
8:55pm: The Pima County Sheriff’s Office gives its first press conference and reveals some clues found at Nancy’s home caused “grave concern.” Sheriff Chris Nanos says helicopters, drones, and infrared cameras are all being utilized in the search.
February 2: Search crews pull back. Nancy’s home is considered a crime scene. Savannah releases a statement thanking supporters for their prayers, which her co-hosts read on Today.
February 3: A trail of blood is pictured outside Nancy’s home, where there were reportedly signs of forced entry. Nanos admits they have no suspects, no leads, and no videos that could lead to Nancy’s recovery. He and the FBI beg for more tips and accounts.
February 4, 8pm: Savannah and her siblings release a heartbreaking video directed at their mother’s abductors asking for proof she is alive and saying they’re willing to work with them to get her back.
February 5: FBI offers $50,000 reward for information on the case.
5pm: First ransom demand deadline for millions in Bitcoin passes. Guthrie family releases demand to speak “directly” to the kidnappers, saying, “We want to talk to you and we are waiting for contact.”
February 9, 5pm: Second ransom demand deadline, reportedly with “much more serious” conditions.
