A man identifying himself as a delivery driver has told US media he was briefly detained for questioning in connection with the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie in Arizona, hours after authorities released surveillance footage of a masked individual near her home on the night she vanished. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has not confirmed the man’s account or that a person detained earlier on Tuesday has been released.
The developments come as the search for Guthrie, the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, continues to grip the nation. Guthrie was last seen at her residence on January 31st and reported missing the following day. The case has been marked by a lack of concrete information until the release of the surveillance footage and subsequent reports of a detention.
According to a report by KNXV-TV, the man, who identified himself only as Carlos and stated he lives in Rio Rico, Arizona, claimed he and his wife were pulled over by police who had been following their vehicle. He asserted his innocence and said he was released after several hours of questioning. “I hope they get the suspect because I’m not it,” he reportedly told reporters.
Authorities have remained tight-lipped about the investigation, offering limited details to the public. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed a traffic stop south of Tucson but did not provide information about the individual involved or their connection to the case. The FBI deferred questions to the sheriff’s office.
On Tuesday evening, law enforcement officials conducted a court-authorised search at a property in Rio Rico, approximately an hour south of Tucson. The search, which was expected to last several hours, was part of the ongoing investigation into Guthrie’s disappearance. The nature of the property and the specific focus of the search have not been disclosed.
The FBI’s release of surveillance footage earlier in the day provided the first visual clues in the case. The videos, described by FBI Director Kash Patel, show an individual wearing a ski mask and a backpack approaching Guthrie’s home. The footage also depicts the person attempting to obscure a doorbell camera with a gloved hand and a plant. It remains unclear whether the individual was armed, though the footage shows what appears to be a handgun holster.
The release of the footage prompted renewed calls for information from the public. Investigators hope the images will generate leads and help identify the individual seen near Guthrie’s home. Former FBI agent Katherine Schweit suggested the footage, despite the individual’s attempt to conceal their identity, could provide valuable clues. “Even when you have a person who appears to be completely covered, they’re really not. You can see their girth, the shape of their face, potentially their eyes or mouth,” she said.
Authorities have previously stated they believe Guthrie was taken against her will. Initial investigations revealed traces of blood on Guthrie’s front porch, which DNA testing confirmed belonged to her. A doorbell camera was also found to have been disconnected in the early hours of February 1st.
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have made public appeals for their mother’s safe return, indicating a willingness to pay a ransom. Authorities have described Nancy Guthrie as mentally sound but with limited mobility, and have expressed concern about her need for medication.
Rio Rico, a town of approximately 20,000 residents, is located roughly an hour’s drive from Guthrie’s home and approximately 15 miles north of the US-Mexico border. The proximity to the border has prompted speculation, though authorities have not commented on any potential cross-border connections to the case.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, with law enforcement agencies continuing to pursue all available leads. The release of the surveillance footage and the reported detention of a person of interest represent the most significant developments in the case to date, offering a glimmer of hope in the search for Nancy Guthrie.
