The search for Nancy Guthrie continues as authorities released a person of interest linked to her disappearance while conducting a search in Rio Rico, Arizona. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department detained the individual during a traffic stop near Tucson on Tuesday and began questioning him. Later, a man identifying himself as Carlos stated he had been released and spoke to reporters outside his home, expressing confusion over why he was detained in connection with Guthrie’s case.
According to two law enforcement sources, investigators are currently searching the residence of the person of interest in Rio Rico, a location approximately 12 miles from the Mexican border. Nancy Guthrie, 84, has been missing since February 1, and authorities suspect she may have been abducted from her Tucson home in the early hours of the morning. The FBI has released images and video footage showing an individual wearing a ski mask and gloves at Guthrie’s home on the night she vanished.
A ransom note demanding payment in bitcoin has surfaced, but the deadline for payment has already passed without any further communication from the abductors. Savannah Guthrie, co-host of the “Today” show and Nancy’s daughter, along with her siblings, has released multiple videos appealing for information regarding their mother’s whereabouts.
In the latest update, Carlos, who claims to be the person of interest, stated that he was surprised by the police stop and denied any involvement in Guthrie’s disappearance. “I didn’t do anything… I’m innocent,” he asserted.
As the search for Nancy Guthrie continues, a spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that no signs of her have been found. Local resident Josefina Maddox claimed that her son-in-law is the detained individual and insisted he had no connection to Guthrie’s abduction. She expressed frustration over the police investigation, asserting that her family has nothing to hide.
Maddox explained that investigators informed her they received a tip suggesting Guthrie might be inside her home. However, she stated she was unaware of who Guthrie was and reiterated that her son-in-law, a delivery driver, had no involvement in the case. Despite her cooperation with law enforcement, she expressed concern over the ongoing search of her property.
Local and federal authorities are executing a court-authorized search of the residence connected to the person of interest. The FBI’s Evidence Response Team is assisting the Pima County Sheriff’s Department in this investigation, which is expected to take several hours.
The situation has garnered attention, and a senior Trump administration official mentioned that the White House is closely monitoring developments in Tucson. Previous communications from the White House indicated that President Trump expressed strong discontent regarding the circumstances surrounding Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
As the inquiry unfolds, investigators are actively pursuing leads, including the analysis of video footage from home security systems that captured images of a suspect the night of Guthrie’s abduction. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work diligently to uncover more information about Nancy Guthrie’s whereabouts.
