The attorney representing Carlos Palazuelos, detained in the investigation of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, demands access to the sealed evidence leading to his client’s home search and extended detention without charges.
Palazuelos’ Detention and Legal Challenge
Carlos Palazuelos, 36, faced detention by Pima County Sheriff’s deputies in February as part of the inquiry into 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. She is the mother of Savannah Guthrie, co-host of Today. Palazuelos was released after approximately eight hours without any charges. His lawyer, Jesse Showalter, has expressed concerns about the lack of transparency regarding the factors that led investigators to target his client.
Showalter stated, “I want to see the search warrant affidavit that was used to obtain the search warrant that led to the arrest and the search of his family home.” He emphasized the need to understand the purported evidence and the information presented to the judge to acquire the search warrant.
The attorney has taken issue with the fact that the search warrant remains sealed months after the incident. He voiced apprehension about whether the evidence will eventually be made public, as sheriffs often seek to keep it protected through a protective order.
Defense of the Investigation
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos defended the investigation, stating that the evidence was sufficient to convince a judge to authorize the warrant. “We had information that made us believe that there’s a potential that Nancy’s there, or there’s a potential the bad guy’s there,” Nanos said, though he refrained from specifying the nature of the evidence.
The family of Palazuelos has filed a notice of claim seeking $3.25 million from Pima County authorities. They are alleging wrongful arrest and search, accusing the deputies of holding Palazuelos at gunpoint without probable cause. Showalter noted that the county has a 60-day window to address the notice of claim, initially filed on July 27, before moving towards a potential lawsuit.
Questions Surrounding the Arrest
Showalter is pressing for answers regarding how Palazuelos came into investigators’ focus. At the time of the incident, Palazuelos worked as a delivery driver, with no apparent connection to Guthrie’s disappearance. Showalter speculated that new AI tools or Flock license-plate cameras might have erroneously brought Palazuelos into the investigation, but he acknowledged that this remains unproven publically.
Impact of the Home Search
The search of Palazuelos’ family home resulted in property damage, per Showalter, who alleged that deputies damaged the door and caused distress to the family members present, including his brother-in-law, Daniel Maddox.
Call for Clearing Palazuelos’ Name
Post-release, Showalter requested that the sheriff’s department declare Palazuelos not a person of interest and admit error, a request not fulfilled by Nanos, who maintains that being released does not equate to being cleared completely. Showalter criticized this approach, arguing there seems to be a reluctance to acknowledge a mistake.
The Ongoing Investigation
The investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, ongoing since February 1, remains active. Guthrie was reported missing from her Tucson area home, prompting a comprehensive law enforcement response. Ransom notes were released to spur new leads, though no suspect has been publicly charged.
Savannah Guthrie, involved in searching efforts, returned to Today on February 23. She continues advocating for new information to aid the investigation.