RIO RICO, Ariz. (VINnews) — An Arizona delivery driver who was detained for several hours in connection with the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has been released without charges after authorities searched his Rio Rico home.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said the man was taken into custody following a traffic stop Tuesday evening in Rio Rico, a border community about 55 to 60 miles south of Tucson. Deputies and the FBI later searched a home believed to be near Interstate 19 and Camino Agosto. Two people familiar with the investigation told CBS News the home belongs to the man who was detained.

BREAKING: the man detained AND NOW RELEASED by authorities during the Nancy Guthrie investigation says he had no idea what was happening and that he just works as a delivery driver in Tucson. @abc15 pic.twitter.com/Wcui0Rjurh

— Lillian Donahue (@LillianDonahue) February 11, 2026

The man, who identified himself to reporters as Carlos Palazeulos, 36, said he works as a delivery driver in the Tucson area, including for a parcel service. He said he had never heard of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, who was reported missing Feb. 1.

“They held me against my will,” Palazeulos told reporters outside his home after his release early Wednesday. He said he was detained from about 4 p.m. until late at night and claimed he was not read his rights for roughly two hours. He also said his wrists were swollen from handcuffs.

Palazeulos said he was riding in a car with his wife when they noticed law enforcement vehicles behind them and decided to pull over. He said he got out of the vehicle and was taken into custody. Authorities have not said why he was stopped.

“I didn’t do anything,” he said. “I work in Tucson. I might have delivered a package to her house, but I never kidnapped anybody.”

He added that he does not watch the news and had not heard of either Nancy Guthrie or her daughter before his detention. “I hope they get the suspect, because I’m not it,” he said.

A woman who identified herself as Carlos’ mother-in-law told CNN she gave officers permission to search the home and said the family had “nothing to hide.” She later said authorities forced entry and detained her son-in-law while he was inside.

The person detained in the #NancyGuthrie case is innocent, his mother-in-law tells NewsNation's @BrianEntin. Josefina says her son-in law hasn't shown any violent behavior and doesn't have any criminal history. #JesseWeberLive

MORE: https://t.co/qrT2zBCOkN pic.twitter.com/0B0e2876fj

— NewsNation (@NewsNation) February 11, 2026

Angelica Carrillo, a spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, confirmed that deputies and the FBI were searching a home in Rio Rico as part of the ongoing investigation. Officials have not confirmed whether Palazeulos is the same person seen in surveillance video released earlier showing a masked individual outside Nancy Guthrie’s Catalina Foothills home.

The search came hours after new activity was recorded in a cryptocurrency wallet tied to the alleged abductors. Transactions were made Tuesday afternoon to a bitcoin address referenced in a ransom note sent to local media outlets.

Authorities have not disclosed what led investigators to Palazeulos. No charges have been filed, and the investigation into Guthrie’s disappearance remains ongoing.