In Rio Rico, Arizona—just 20 minutes from the Mexico border—a 36-year-old delivery driver named Carlos Palazuelos was detained by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday for questioning in connection with the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. The traffic stop escalated quickly, leading to Palazuelos being held as investigators probed his potential links to the high-profile abduction case.
Palazuelos works as a contract delivery driver for major companies including FedEx, UPS, and DoorDash. At the time of his detention, he was living with his mother-in-law, Josefina, in Rio Rico after recently facing an eviction. Authorities conducted a raid at the home during the operation, drawing a crowd of reporters to the scene.
As the raid unfolded outside her residence, Josefina spoke directly to reporters, passionately defending her son-in-law's innocence. She insisted that Palazuelos had no involvement in the case and pointed out that a suspicious van spotted in connection with the investigation was likely the one he used for his delivery work.
Josefina further emphasized her confidence in Palazuelos to NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin, stating unequivocally that the detained individual "is innocent." She added that her son-in-law "hasn’t shown any violent behavior and doesn’t have any criminal history," countering any suggestions of prior wrongdoing.
The identification of Palazuelos as the person in custody was confirmed publicly by Josefina herself, as reported in real-time by journalist Jorge Bonilla on February 11, 2026. Bonilla tweeted: "BREAKING: Carlos Palazuelos(?) of Rio Rico, AZ has been identified by his mother-in-law as the person in custody regarding the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie," accompanied by an image from the scene.
The swift detention in the remote Arizona border community has intensified scrutiny on the Nancy Guthrie case, with local law enforcement focusing on Palazuelos amid ongoing searches. Josefina's outspoken defense highlighted the personal toll of the investigation, as family members awaited further developments from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
Details of the traffic stop and subsequent questioning remain limited, but the involvement of a delivery driver operating near the border has fueled speculation about potential leads in Guthrie's abduction. Reporters captured the tense atmosphere outside Josefina's home, where she stood firm in proclaiming Palazuelos's character and lack of criminal past.
