TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD/Gray News) – Authorities in Arizona say more detainments are likely as investigators work through thousands of calls and tips related to the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos spoke Wednesday night, the day after the detainment of Carlos Palazuelos in connection to the case, saying more detainments were likely as the investigation continues.
Palazuelos was detained during a traffic stop Tuesday night in Rio Rico, Arizona, which is about 60 miles south of Tucson and just north of the Mexican border. He said he was held for hours, which Nanos confirmed. His home was searched until around 1 a.m. Wednesday, and he was released.
Palazuelos said the FBI told him he was questioned because a tip was called in saying he looked similar to the suspect seen in surveillance camera footage taken outside Nancy Guthrie’s home on Jan. 31, the morning of her disappearance.
On Tuesday, federal investigators released the footage, which shows an armed individual tampering with the camera on Nancy Guthrie’s front door. The video shows the suspect, wearing a ski mask and gloves, walking slowly to the front porch.
After he was released, Palazuelos spoke with KOLD about his detainment. He claimed he didn’t know why it happened and said he just wanted to clear his name.
“Something I didn’t do,” he said. “I know it’s their job to do what they are doing but to an innocent man? I think they don’t even have evidence against me, so I don’t even know how they got to me.”
Nanos said there were more factors leading to Palazuelos’ detainment than just a tip but could not expand on them. He said no one, including Palazuelos, has been ruled out as part of the investigation.
The sheriff’s department confirmed earlier Wednesday that black gloves found in Nancy Guthrie’s neighborhood are being tested for DNA. Nanos also said digital forensic teams have been examining and processing every piece of electronic evidence, including cell tower data.
On Tuesday, Savannah Guthrie shared the surveillance footage released by investigators on her social media, asking anyone with information to call law enforcement.
“We believe she is still alive,” she wrote of her mother. ”Bring her home.”
Andy Black, a former FBI assistant special agent in charge in Tucson, provided insight into the detainment process after Palazuelos was questioned and released.
“Generally, they find as much about an individual of interest as possible and their associates as well,” he said. “So, when they rolled up on this residence and executed a search warrant, they had a pretty good idea of who might be there and what they might find.”
Black said a magistrate would not sign off on a search warrant based solely on physical appearance.
“I do not believe a magistrate would sign off on a search warrant to enter someone’s residence and conduct a search based on eyebrows and a mustache,” Black said. “I think there must be more evidence if that’s what they were looking for, tying this location to the Guthrie investigation.
“Someone probably did provide that information. It seems rather flimsy to make a case on, but the sheriff’s department and the FBI have kept a lot of the evidence close to their vest as they should. So, I suspect there’s much more information that was involved in detaining him for that length of time.”
Regarding Palazuelos’ release, Black said it’s possible that investigators now “have another avenue of leads to pursue.”
“This doesn’t necessarily mean the FBI has moved away from this individual,” Black said. “But it does indicate that they don’t have enough to arrest or detain further.”
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