A delivery driver who was detained and questioned in connection with the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie has been released without charges.
Carlos Palazuelos, 36, was reportedly taken into custody by law enforcement on February 10 while driving in Arizona. His detention came as the search for Nancy — the mother of Savannah Guthrie of NBC’s Today — entered its 11th day.
Authorities have not publicly named any official suspects in the case, and Palazuelos was later released without being charged.
Speaking to reporters outside his home after his release, Palazuelos claimed he was held for several hours and expressed frustration over the experience.
“They held me against my will. They didn’t even read me my rights until two hours later,” he said.
Maintaining his innocence, he added: “What the f**k am I doing here? I didn’t do anything, to be honest, I’m innocent.”
Palazuelos stated that he had never heard of Nancy Guthrie or her daughter Savannah and does not follow the news. He reportedly told investigators that he may have delivered a package to Nancy’s home on February 1 — the same day she is believed to have gone missing.
“I hope they get the suspect, because I’m not it,” Palazuelos told reporters. “And they better do their job and find the suspect that did it so they can clear my name. I’m done.”
DoorDash, the company Palazuelos works for as a delivery driver, released a statement during the investigation.
“We are urgently investigating reports that an individual detained in relation to the Nancy Guthrie case was a delivery driver,” the company said. “We have reached out to law enforcement and are ready to support their critical investigation in any way we can. Like tens of millions around the world, our hearts are with the Guthrie family during this heart-wrenching time.”
Meanwhile, the broader investigation continues. Two ransom deadlines demanding $6 million in bitcoin for Nancy’s return have already passed. According to reports, the ransom note did not include explicit threats about what would occur if payment was not made.
The FBI recently released surveillance images recovered from Nancy Guthrie’s home security system. The footage appears to show a masked individual tampering with a video doorbell camera while wearing a balaclava, gloves, a zipped jacket, and a backpack.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the images were recovered through technical efforts after initial data appeared inaccessible.
“Working with our partners – as of this morning, law enforcement has uncovered these previously inaccessible new images showing an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance,” Patel said.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the individual in the footage has been identified. The investigation remains active, and officials continue to urge anyone with credible information to come forward.
As the search for Nancy Guthrie continues, law enforcement faces mounting public attention, while those briefly connected to the case — including Palazuelos — navigate the personal and professional impact of being scrutinized during a high-profile investigation.
