Rio Rico Man Questions Detention in High-Profile Missing Person Investigation
Carlos Palazuelos, a resident of Rio Rico who was detained for questioning in connection with the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, has publicly described his experience as profoundly unsettling. Following his release, Palazuelos stated that the detention on Tuesday "felt like being kidnapped," expressing shock at the manner of his apprehension.
Detainee Claims Lack of Initial Information
According to reports from Fox10, Palazuelos revealed that law enforcement officials provided no immediate explanation for his detention. "Terrifying. Something I didn't do for something I would be like. I felt like I was being kidnapped. They didn't tell me anything in the beginning," he was quoted as saying. The questioning reportedly centered on his whereabouts and activities during work hours, which he summarized as inquiries about "the time where my whereabouts were at our work, where was I and all that."
Connection to Doorbell Camera Footage
Palazuelos indicated that his detention appeared linked to images recovered by the FBI from Nancy Guthrie's doorbell camera on the morning she went missing. He mentioned that an in-law had been shown a photo of someone wearing a mask who was said to resemble him. When authorities asked if he had been to Guthrie's home, Palazuelos responded with uncertainty, saying, "might have been a possibility? Don't know. Yeah." He attributed this ambiguity to his work as a delivery driver but emphasized that he did not know Nancy Guthrie personally.
Release of Critical Video Evidence
Palazuelos was detained on the same day the FBI made public photos and videos from Guthrie's doorbell camera. Nancy Guthrie disappeared on February 1, and the case has since captured nationwide attention. The released footage, totaling less than a minute, shows a person wearing a ski mask and carrying a backpack approaching Guthrie's front door in the Tucson foothills.
The individual is seen lowering their head and turning away from the camera, while using a flashlight held in their mouth and a gloved hand along with a plant pulled from the yard in an attempt to block the camera's view. FBI Director Kash Patel noted that the "armed individual" seemed to have "tampered with the camera," though it remains unclear if the holster actually contained a firearm.
Investigation Challenges and Family Pleas
Patel added that the videos were retrieved from "back-end systems" after investigators spent several days trying to recover footage that had been lost, corrupted, or otherwise inaccessible. The footage does not indicate what happened to Guthrie or whether she is still alive.
The FBI confirmed that the Guthrie family has received ransom letters demanding payment. In Instagram videos, Savannah, Camron, and Annie Guthrie addressed media reports about a ransom letter, pleading for their mother's safe return and requesting proof of life and contact with the alleged abductor. They indicated a willingness to pay, though the FBI stated it was not aware of any ongoing communication between the family and the kidnappers.
Savannah Guthrie shared images and video of the masked individual, urging the public to contact law enforcement with any information. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt also noted that she and President Donald Trump had just reviewed the newly released footage, highlighting the case's high-profile nature.
