The man who was detained in connection with the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has spoken out after being released by authorities.
Carlos Palazuelos, from Rio Rico, Arizona, was taken into custody on Tuesday (February 10), after a traffic stop about 60 miles south of Tucson.
The detainment came amid the ongoing investigation into the kidnapping of the 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie.
Nancy was last seen on January 31, when she was dropped off at her home by her family. She was believed to have been abducted in the early hours of February 1.
Authorities launched a widespread investigation after a trail of blood was found at her home, and ransom notes were sent to media outlets demanding bitcoin for her return.
Palazuelos Denies Involvement in Disappearance
Palazuelos, who was working at the time of his detainment, spoke to reporters outside his home following his release.
He explained that he was stopped while driving, and although authorities searched his car and home, they did not question him in detail.
It was only later that he learned his detainment was related to a kidnapping case. "What the f*** am I doing here? I didn’t do anything. I’m innocent," he said.
Palazuelos further stated that he doesn't know who Nancy or her daughter, Savannah, are. He also reiterated that he "didn’t do anything," and hopes police can catch the suspect so he can clear his name.
The delivery man's detainment followed the release of surveillance footage by authorities, showing a masked individual tampering with the Nest camera at Nancy's home.
The footage, shared by the FBI and Pima County Sheriff's Department, depicted a person wearing gloves and carrying a backpack, potentially linked to Nancy's disappearance.
Ransom Notes and New Demands
In the ongoing search for the 84-year-old, the family received a new ransom note on February 11.
The note, which has been passed to the FBI, contained a new bitcoin demand, this time asking for 1 Bitcoin, roughly worth $66,000, along with an ominous threat.
The message, which was sent to Savannah and her siblings, stated: "If they want the name of the individual involved, then I want 1 Bitcoin to the following wallet.” It ended with the chilling comment: "Time is more than relevant."
This new note follows previous ransom demands, which had initially sought $6 million in bitcoin, but no payment has been made yet.
The FBI is taking the latest note seriously, and a $50,000 reward is being offered for any information that leads to the identification of Nancy’s captors.
Savannah, along with her family, has been actively sharing updates and urging the public to provide any information that could lead to her mother's safe return.
"We believe she is still alive. Bring her home," the news anchor said on Instagram.