Carlos, a man detained in connection with the kidnapping case of Nancy Guthrie, spoke publicly after his release early Wednesday. No one ever asked him about the case while he was in detention, he stressed. He stayed on the ground from about 4 PM until his release.
In an exclusive interview with CBS News on his doorstep, Carlos was reluctant to speak. Yet he ultimately agreed to go on the record and talk about what he went through. He described a recent traffic stop outside of Rio Rico, Arizona. Because of this interaction, law enforcement was able to question him in connection to the case. Carlos remembered that detectives had arrived at his Tucson home just two hours before arresting him. They had their hands full with the ongoing search of the location.
Carlos, who works for GLS as a courier, mentioned that it was possible he encountered Nancy Guthrie during his job. He said, “I was pursuing the wrong guy.” He was shocked to be implicated in the case. He claimed that he had no knowledge of Guthrie prior to the day of the interview.
Now living with his wife and her mother, Carlos was under enormous stress during the #scotus questioning. His account was that he was never officially questioned. The mood surrounding the inquiry left him with anger and a sense of importance.
The investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance has received a great deal of national media attention, often putting people like Carlos under the microscope. Her wrongful death lawsuit is currently on hold while law enforcement agencies continue to investigate her death. At the same time, Carlos’s words provide powerful lessons into the realities faced by people entangled in violent circumstances.
Even as the investigation into Carlos’s death continues, his testimony calls into question the ways that authorities have reportedly handled the detention process. His sudden release after many hours in detention is a reminder of the nuances with active investigations. These circumstances deeply harm people who are not engaged in any crime at all.
