Man Detained In Nancy Guthrie Disappearance: Like ‘Being Kidnapped’

By Siladitya Ray, Forbes Staff and Mike Stunson, Forbes Staff.

Feb 11, 2026, 10:05am EST

TOPLINE

A man detained—and later released—Tuesday night in connection with the Nancy Guthrie disappearance called the encounter with police “terrifying,” telling reporters it felt like he “was being kidnapped,” with FBI Director Kash Patel saying there are multiple persons of interest in the case.

KEY FACTS

• In a statement on X, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said its deputies “detained a subject during a traffic stop south of Tucson” and were questioning the person “in connection to the Nancy Guthrie investigation.”
• The New York Times reported that the detained individual was released after being questioned by law enforcement, although the Sheriff’s office has not yet confirmed this.
• He identified himself to NBC News as Carlos Palazelos, a delivery driver, and told the outlet he had no involvement with the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother: “Something I didn’t do. I felt like I was being kidnapped, bro. They didn’t tell me anything.”
• He told the Times he had not heard about Guthrie’s disappearance but hoped she is found safe.
• ABC affiliate KGUN 9 shared bystander footage of the person’s detainment which shows multiple law enforcement vehicles on site of the traffic stop where the man was detained.
• No press conference is scheduled overnight and the sheriff’s office said “additional information will be released as it becomes available.”

What Do We Know About The Property Search In Rio Rico?

NBC News and other outlets reported that the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and FBI’s Evidence Response Team were conducting a court-authorized search at a site in Rio Rico, Arizona, as part of the Guthrie investigation. Officials later confirmed the search had been concluded but didn’t share any details on findings. According to the New York Times, the property being searched was the house owned by the detained man’s mother-in-law. She told the outlet that her son-in-law lives and daughter live with her and he was delivering food when he was stopped by police. She also insisted that the masked person seen in the doorbell camera was not her son-in-law. Rio Rico is located 60 miles south of Tucson, close to the border with Mexico.
Crucial Quote

In a statement issued on X, the online food delivery platform Doordash said it was “urgently investigating reports that an individual detained in relation to the Nancy Guthrie case was a delivery driver.” The company said it has reached out to law enforcement and is “ready to support their critical investigation in any way we can.”
Tangent

ABC News 15 interviewed the man who was detained and later released by police. He identified himself only as “Carlos” and said his wife was driving the car when he spotted police following them and then he “pulled over” the car. He claimed he was arrested immediately and officers didn’t tell him what was going on for two hours. “They told me I was being detained for kidnapping. And I asked him like, ‘kidnapping of who?’And they told me this lady, I don't know her name.” The man said he told the agent: “I might have delivered a package to her house, but I never kidnapped anybody,” noting that he worked as a delivery agent. After being detained for several hours, Carlos said he was told “you’re free to go.” He told NBC News he was told the masked individual seen in the doorbell camera had eyes that resembled his.

What Has Fbi Director Kash Patel Said?

FBI Director Kash Patel appeared on the Fox News show “Hannity” to discuss the case, touting the agency’s “great partnerships with the private sector” that enabled it to gain access to the doorbell camera footage. He added that the agency was able to “exploit information” secured through its engagement with the private sector, “that showed us that there might be persons of interest in and around the area related to this event.” The footage shared earlier was recorded on a Google Nest doorbell camera. Patel added: “This investigation of this magnitude was going to require the public’s assistance, which is why we put it out nearly immediately, the video, the photos, and sharpened images. And we continue to receive tips, and we encourage all Americans to provide any and all tips.”

Key Background

Earlier on Tuesday, the FBI released doorbell camera photos and video footage of a masked individual standing outside Nancy Guthrie’s home the night of her disappearance. Patel said law enforcement uncovered the “previously inaccessible new images” with the help of “private sector partners.” Investigators had initially found that the camera outside Guthrie’s home was disconnected before her disappearance, and the newly released footage showed the masked person trying to tamper with the Google Nest device.