The lawyer representing Carlos Palazuelos, a man detained during the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, demands access to the sealed evidence that led to his client’s detention. Palazuelos, a 36-year-old delivery driver, was held by Pima County Sheriff’s deputies in February but released after approximately eight hours without charges being filed.
Carlos Palazuelos was detained as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, who is the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie. The events that led to the detainment and search of Palazuelos’ family home remain a mystery half a year later, according to his attorney, Jesse Showalter. Showalter told Newsweek, “I want to see the search warrant affidavit that was used in order to obtain the search warrant that led to the arrest and the search of his family home.” Showalter emphasized the need to know the evidence that led to this judicial decision.
The arrest warrant is still sealed and the evidence that supposedly justified the arrest and search remains undisclosed. Showalter stated, “Whatever evidence supposedly existed, for the arrest and for the search is secret.” There is uncertainty about whether this evidence will eventually become public, as such cases often involve protective orders to keep the information confidential during ongoing investigations.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos defended the investigation, explaining that investigators had presented sufficient evidence to a judge to obtain the warrant. Nanos declined to disclose specific evidence but stated, “We had information that made us believe that there’s a potential that Nancy’s there, or there’s a potential the bad guy’s there.”
Following this episode, Palazuelos and his relatives have filed a notice of claim for damages worth $3.25 million against Pima County authorities, citing wrongful arrest and search. The claim seeks $2.5 million for Palazuelos, $500,000 for his brother-in-law Daniel Maddox, and approximately $250,000 for his mother-in-law Josefina Maddox, who owns the home in question.
Showalter is particularly interested in understanding how Palazuelos became involved in the investigation. According to the attorney, Palazuelos was working as a delivery driver and had no reason to be near Nancy Guthrie’s home at the time of her disappearance. “We don’t have any reason to believe that Carlos was anywhere near that area on the date of the kidnapping,” he said. He speculated that advanced law enforcement technologies, like AI software or Flock license-plate cameras, might have played a role, but admitted this remains speculative without further evidence.
During the home search, deputies reportedly mishandled the situation, barging into the house where Daniel Maddox was present. Showalter reported that deputies forced Maddox to the ground at gunpoint, despite no wrongdoing on his part. He added that the event damaged property, alleging damage to the home’s door and potential other damages.
Showalter has called on Sheriff Nanos to clear Palazuelos’ name publicly and admit a mistake was made during the course of the investigation. “We have repeatedly demanded that they clear Carlos and admit they made a mistake,” it was claimed. Sheriff Nanos maintained that being released doesn’t exclude an individual from future scrutiny, stating, “But it’s like any [criminal case], because you’re eliminated doesn’t mean you didn’t do it.”
The attorney argued that the department’s apparent reluctance to admit a mistake indicates unwillingness to take accountability for missteps in the investigation. He said that legal proceedings are necessary to rectify the damage done to Palazuelos’ reputation. The plan includes not only seeking damages but also establishing the facts of what transpired during the investigation.
The case continues without any formal charges related to Guthrie’s disappearance, which happened on February 1, 2026, when she was last seen at her home in Tucson, Arizona. The investigation remains active, including efforts by the FBI to find new leads, accompanied by the release of ransom notes associated with the case.
Savannah Guthrie, after taking time off to join the search efforts for her mother, returned to NBC’s Today show on February 23. She has been vocal about the ongoing investigation, urging the public to provide any useful lead.
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