Police have released a man hours after they detained him in connection to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of US news anchor Savannah Guthrie, CBS News reports.
After taking the man into custody at a traffic stop, police conducted a search of his home in Rio Rico, Arizona, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
Upon his release, identified only as Carlos, he stated he was unaware of who Nancy Guthrie was, claiming, I don't follow the news. Guthrie, aged 84, was abducted from her home a week ago, prompting a widespread search and urgent appeals from her family.
Carlos, a deliveryman, reported noticing authorities following him before his arrest. No questions were posed to him during his detention, and he was held for hours in a parking area. His mother-in-law asserted he had no connection to the case, describing police actions as intrusive.
The investigation included the Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirming a court-authorized search at a location in Rio Rico. This news coincides with the FBI’s release of images and videos showing a masked individual armed at Nancy Guthrie's doorstep around the time of her disappearance.
Authorities disclosed that video footage depicted a person tampering with the security camera outside Nancy Guthrie's home, raising serious concerns. Savannah Guthrie has been vocal on social media, sharing pleas for her mother’s safe return and urging any witnesses to come forward.
As the case develops, the FBI is offering a reward for any information leading to Nancy's whereabouts, as family members express distress over her health condition without medication. The investigation remains active, with a significant focus on the avenue of ransom-related communications received by the family.
