In a recent development linked to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, 84, mother of NBC “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, delivery driver Carlos Palazeulos was detained and subsequently released by law enforcement officials without any charges filed. The incident has raised concerns about due process and the identification of suspects in high-profile criminal investigations.
On the evening of February 11, 2026, Palazeulos, 36, was released after several hours of detention. Speaking to reporters outside his home in Rio Rico, Arizona, Palazeulos shared his displeasure with the way he was treated during the ordeal. He described the experience as being held against his will, noting that his wrists were swollen from the handcuffs and expressing his bewilderment at the situation, vehemently maintaining his innocence.
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on February 1. Palazeulos, who works for the parcel delivery service GLS and operates in the Tucson area, conceded that he might have delivered a package to Guthrie's residence as part of his routine work duties. However, he insisted that he had no knowledge of Nancy Guthrie or her daughter, as he does not follow news programming.
The detention unfolded when Palazeulos and his wife noticed they were being followed by law enforcement vehicles. After pulling over, Palazeulos was taken out of the vehicle and detained. The Pima County Sheriff's Deputies held Palazeulos from around 4:00 p.m. until his release later that evening. Throughout the questioning, he asserted his innocence, although authorities did not provide him with a specific reason for being considered a person of interest in the case.
While Palazeulos was in custody, officials executed a search of his Rio Rico home, approximately 60 miles south of Tucson near the Mexican border. The residence he shares with his wife, children, and in-laws was the site of a forcible entry by officers, who allegedly broke down both the front door and garage door. Family members reported that all cell phones in the household were confiscated, and the vehicle Palazeulos had been in was also taken by authorities but was later returned.
Palazeulos' mother-in-law spoke to media, relaying that investigators had shown her video footage in an attempt to identify any items belonging to her son-in-law. She stated that none of the items in the video belonged to Palazeulos and described the family's cooperation with law enforcement, emphasizing their lack of knowledge regarding the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.
The FBI had previously released surveillance images of a masked individual tampering with a doorbell camera at Nancy Guthrie's residence on the morning of her disappearance. The suspect was seen wearing a ski mask, gloves, sneakers, a fleece jacket, and a backpack, with a holstered gun visible on the front of their belt. Notably, the suspect placed flowers in front of the camera lens, an action captured in the surveillance footage.
The case of Nancy Guthrie's disappearance remains an ongoing investigation, and the release of Palazeulos has brought forth discussions about the identification and treatment of individuals in such high-stakes cases.
