Authorities are searching for the ‘Today’ show host’s mother who is believed to have been taken against her will from her home on Feb. 1

Carlos Palazuelos

An ABC 15 Arizona reporter talks to Carlos Palazuelos.Credit : ABC15 Arizona/Facebook

The man detained by police in the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, told a local outlet just moments after he was released that he is not the kidnapper authorities are seeking in the high-profile case.

“I’m glad they’re doing their job,” a man who identified himself as Carlos Palazuelos of Rio Rico, Ariz., told ABC 15 Arizona. “But they’re chasing the wrong guy.”

Palazuelos told the outlet that his wife was behind the wheel when he noticed that police were following them. “Once I saw they were following me, I pulled over,” he said.

“They arrested me as soon as I got out of the car,” he said. “They didn’t tell me what was going on until detectives got here.”

Authorities including the FBI told him he was being detained for kidnapping, he said.

“I asked them, ‘Kidnapping of who?’ and they told me this lady, I don’t know her name.”

The reporter said, “Nancy Guthrie?” and Palazuelos said yes.

“That’s her,” he said. “I work in Tucson for GLS and I might have delivered a package to her house but I didn’t kidnap anybody.”

Savannah Guthrie and her mother, Nancy Guthrie, on the 'Today' set in 2023.

Savannah Guthrie and her mother, Nancy Guthrie, on the ‘Today’ set in 2023.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Nancy was last seen going into her garage after being dropped off by her family at 9:48 p.m. on Sat., Jan. 31, at her home in Tucson, about 60 miles north of Rio Rico.

She is believed to have been kidnapped in the early morning hours of Sun., Feb. 1, authorities said.

After his release, Palazuelos also spoke to reporters outside his house, saying, “I didn’t do anything,” KVOA reports.

“I hope they get the suspect, because I’m not it,” he said. “I hope they get the suspect so I can clear my name.”

In the interview, which was posted to X by Andres Gutierrez of CBS News, Palazuelos said that when authorities told him they’d stopped him for a kidnapping, he thought, “What the f— am I doing here? I didn’t do anything. I’m innocent.”

He said authorities didn’t ask him any questions, but searched his car and home.

His detainment came hours after authorities released surveillance photos and video footage of an armed individual on Nancy’s front porch.

The images and video the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department posted to social media show a person wearing a ski mask, a zip-up jacket, gloves, and carrying a backpack approach the porch of Nancy’s house.

One of the videos FBI Director Kash Patel posted shows the person appearing to tamper with the Nest camera at Nancy’s front door. Another video shows the person holding a flashlight in their mouth and then covering the camera with branches.

In an Instagram post minutes after the new photos were released, Savannah, 54, shared the images and wrote: “We believe she is still alive. Bring her home.”

The potential kidnappers sent alleged ransom notes tied to Nancy’s disappearance to several media outlets.

The potential kidnappers set an initial deadline for 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, and a second deadline for 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9.

Anyone with information is asked to please contact 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or the Pima County Sheriff’s Department 520-351-4900.