An Arizona man detained during the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie plans to sue the Pima County Sheriff’s Department for $3.25 million, alleging he was wrongfully targeted, his family's property was damaged, and his name was defamed.
A notice of claim was filed seeking damages on behalf of Carlos Palazuelos and two family members following a February 10 operation connected to the investigation into Guthrie’s disappearance. Palazuelos is seeking $2.5 million, while Daniel Maddox is seeking $500,000 and homeowner Josefina Maddox is seeking $250,000 for alleged property damage during the execution of a search warrant at their Rio Rico home.
The claim states that deputies drew their guns on Palazuelos, took him into custody, and held him for seven to eight hours before releasing him without charges. His cellphone and driver’s license were reportedly confiscated during the search of the residence. Daniel Maddox claims he was handcuffed and held under armed guard outside the home, while Josefina Maddox alleges deputies damaged her property.
The notice contends that investigators secured the warrant based on “false or baseless evidence” and that deputies lacked probable cause to believe Palazoulos had committed a crime. It further alleges that Sheriff Chris Nanos and the department portrayed Palazuelos as a suspect by publicly announcing his detention and referring to him as a “person of interest” to reporters. The filing states that authorities have since refused to retract these statements or publicly clear Palazuelos’s name.
"We need to see some accountability obviously,” said attorney Jesse Showalter, representing the family. He added that Palazuelos and his family have been subjected to public attention, including being followed and photographed, since his detention, causing them fear.
The notice of claim was filed as the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, 84, entered its sixth month with no arrests or publicly identified suspects. Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her Catalina Foothills home on February 1.
Last week, Sheriff Nanos released the full text of purported ransom communications sent to Tucson media shortly after Guthrie vanished, in hopes that someone might recognize the author's language or writing style. Authorities also revealed that testing on a hair recovered from Guthrie's home did not yield a usable DNA profile, while other biological evidence is still under analysis.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office Department stated it “does not comment on pending litigation” when reached for comment. Under Arizona law, the county has 60 days to respond to the settlement demand before the claimants can proceed with a lawsuit.