Man Detained in Nancy Guthrie Case Breaks His Silence After Release
A man briefly detained by Arizona authorities during the search for Nancy Guthrie is speaking publicly after being released, insisting he has no connection to her disappearance.
The man, who identified himself only as Carlos, was stopped south of Tucson on Tuesday afternoon and held for several hours by deputies with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
Officials later confirmed the detention was part of the broader investigation but said no charges were filed.
According to Carlos, officers told him he was being detained in connection with a kidnapping—news that came as a shock.
He said he had never heard of Guthrie before that day and struggled to understand why he was being questioned.
“I asked them, ‘Kidnapping of who?’” he recalled, adding that investigators cited limited evidence during the questioning.
Carlos explained that he works delivering packages in the Tucson area and suggested that any connection may have come from a prior delivery to the neighborhood.
After being held from late afternoon until around midnight, Carlos said deputies informed him he was free to leave, stating there was insufficient evidence to continue detaining him.
He claimed local authorities told him they were no longer investigating him, though he was advised that federal agencies could still follow up.
Speaking with reporter Ford Hatchett, Carlos described the experience as frightening and disorienting.
“I thought I was going to lose everything,” he said. “But I didn’t do anything. I’m innocent.”
The case has drawn national attention in part because Guthrie is the mother of Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of NBC’s Today.
Immediately following his release, we spoke to a man who says he was detained by Pima County Sheriff’s deputies for “kidnapping” Nancy Guthrie. @FordHatchett @dannybavaro pic.twitter.com/3jj7mxSGFO
— ABC15 Arizona (@abc15) February 11, 2026
Authorities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, continue to pursue multiple leads and have emphasized that detentions and searches do not imply guilt.
As the investigation continues, officials are urging the public to avoid speculation and allow law enforcement time to evaluate evidence carefully.
No arrests have been announced, and the search for answers remains ongoing.
