Authorities took a person in for questioning in connection with the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department “detained a subject during a traffic stop south of Tucson,” according to a statement published on Tuesday night.
Nancy Guthrie has been missing for roughly 11 days.
Carlos Palazuelos, 27, is the man who was detained and released the same day. He denied any connection to her disappearance, describing the experience as “terrifying.”
“Something I didn’t do. I felt like I was being kidnapped, bro. They didn’t tell me anything,” he told Ford Hatchett from ABC News’ Phoenix affiliate.
Palazuelos is a delivery driver and was pulled over when driving home. “All I know is they showed my in-law a picture of somebody wearing a mask or something and it supposedly looked like my eyes,” Palazuelos said.
He said he didn’t know Nancy Guthrie but said he may have delivered a package to her house.
FBI’s Phoenix office issued an update on its investigation on Wednesday afternoon.
“This morning, numerous FBI agents are conducting an extensive search along multiple roadways in the Catalina Foothills area related to the Nancy Guthrie investigation,” the statement said, asking the media and motorists to remain cautious about law enforcement personnel on the roadways.
The statement reiterated the FBI’s $50,000 reward for information connected to Guthrie’s disappearance.
Hatchett, in another post, said the Sheriff’s department has received more than 4,000 calls to their tip line since the surveillance images in connection with the case were released by the FBI on Tuesday.
FBI Director Kash Patel posted several images of a “potential subject in the investigation.”
Patel said the evidence was recovered from Guthrie’s security camera at home.
The same day, the sheriff’s department issued an unusual message and warning for members of the media.
“We can’t believe we have to say this, but media on scene: please do not order food delivery to a crime scene address. This interferes with an active investigation. Please also respect private property laws,” the statement said.
This message came after a pizza was delivered to Nancy Guthrie’s front door.
DoorDash responded to the concerns about their delivery worker walking on a property with an active investigation.
“We are urgently investigating reports that an individual detained in relation to the Nancy Guthrie case was a delivery driver. We have reached out to law enforcement and are ready to support their critical investigation in any way we can,” the statement said.