Delivery Driver Detained in Nancy Guthrie Case Proclaims Innocence
Carlos is Obviously Not The Mastermind
Carlos Speaks Out: Delivery Driver Detained in Nancy Guthrie Case Proclaims Innocence
Rio Rico, Arizona — The man who was briefly detained as a person of interest in the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie is speaking out, telling CBS News and other media outlets that he has no idea why authorities targeted him and maintains he had nothing to do with the 84-year-old’s disappearance.
“I Didn’t Do Anything... I’m Innocent”
Carlos, who asked to be identified only by his first name, was released from custody early Wednesday morning after being questioned for approximately eight hours following a traffic stop south of Tucson. Speaking to reporters outside his home in Rio Rico, Arizona, he expressed shock and confusion about his connection to the high-profile case.
“I didn’t do anything. ... I’m innocent,” Carlos told CBS News cameras. The delivery driver said he was completely unaware of who Nancy Guthrie was—or her famous daughter, “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie—until investigators pulled him over.
“I don’t watch the news,” he explained, indicating he had no knowledge of the case that has dominated headlines for nearly two weeks.
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A Confusing Detention
Carlos’s account of his detention raises questions about what led authorities to focus on him. He told reporters that detectives made him wait for several hours but said they didn’t ask him any questions about the kidnapping itself before releasing him.
The detention occurred Tuesday evening when Pima County Sheriff’s deputies stopped a vehicle during a traffic stop in Rio Rico, a community located about 12 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. Authorities executed a court-authorized search warrant at a residence connected to the detained individual, which lasted several hours.
Josephina Maddox, who identified herself as Carlos’s mother-in-law, told reporters outside the home that investigators were focusing on her son-in-law. She insisted he had “nothing to do with” Guthrie’s abduction and gave investigators permission to search the property.
“They’re investigating my son-in-law,” Maddox said. “He had nothing to do with it.”
The Delivery Driver Connection
Maddox told CBS News that her son-in-law works as a delivery driver in Tucson—a detail that may explain the initial connection to the case. Carlos himself acknowledged to other media outlets that he may have delivered a package to Nancy Guthrie’s home at some point, but emphasized he didn’t know her and had no involvement in her disappearance.
Maddox also revealed that investigators showed her the surveillance video from Guthrie’s home—the footage showing a masked, armed person at the front door—to see if she recognized the individual. She told reporters that her son-in-law doesn’t own any of the clothing seen on the person in the video.
No Charges Filed
As of Wednesday morning, no charges have been filed against Carlos, and authorities have not officially confirmed his identity as the person of interest they detained. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department stated only that a subject was questioned and released.
The FBI and local authorities continue their search for Nancy Guthrie, who remains missing 11 days after she was allegedly abducted from her Tucson home. The 84-year-old is without critical medication, adding urgency to the ongoing investigation.
A Case of Mistaken Identity?
Carlos’s release without charges and his adamant denials suggest authorities may have pursued a lead that didn’t pan out—a not uncommon occurrence in high-pressure missing persons investigations, particularly those involving prominent families that attract intense media and law enforcement scrutiny.
The case highlights the challenges investigators face when piecing together evidence in the critical early days of an abduction investigation. With the release of the doorbell camera footage showing a masked suspect, the pressure to identify and locate the perpetrator has intensified.
For now, Carlos is trying to return to normal life while clearing his name. “I hope they get the suspect, because I’m not it,” he told reporters. “They better do their job and find the suspect that did it so they can clear my name.”
Anyone with information about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, 88-CRIME, 520-351-4900, or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.