Two Arizona men who were detained during the high-profile investigation into the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie have taken the first legal step toward suing the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, alleging they were wrongfully detained and that their property was damaged during the investigation.
More than five months after the incident, attorneys representing Carlos Palazuelos, Daniel Maddox, and the mother of one of the men have filed a formal notice of claim against Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos and one of the department’s detectives. Under Arizona law, a notice of claim is typically required before a lawsuit can be filed against a public agency or its employees.
The claim alleges that the men were subjected to wrongful arrest, unlawful detention, and property damage during the intense search for the person responsible for kidnapping Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC “TODAY” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.
According to the filing, Carlos Palazuelos was detained by law enforcement on Feb. 10 and questioned for several hours before being released without facing any criminal charges. Authorities were aggressively pursuing leads at the time following the reported kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie earlier that month, an investigation that drew significant public attention.
Daniel Maddox was also detained during the investigation, although neither man was ultimately charged with any crime. Their attorneys argue that law enforcement acted without sufficient legal justification and that the men suffered emotional distress, reputational harm, and financial losses as a result of the incident.
In addition to claims of wrongful detention, the notice alleges that property belonging to the men or their family was damaged during the investigation. Specific details regarding the alleged damage and the amount of compensation being sought have not yet been made public.
A notice of claim is not a lawsuit itself but serves as formal notification that legal action may follow if the dispute is not resolved. Arizona law requires such notices to be filed before individuals can pursue civil claims against government entities or public officials.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office has not publicly commented on the notice of claim or the allegations made against Sheriff Chris Nanos and the detective named in the filing.
The legal action stems from an investigation that attracted nationwide attention because of Nancy Guthrie’s connection to her daughter, Savannah Guthrie. Law enforcement conducted an extensive search for the alleged kidnapper, leading officers to question multiple individuals as they worked to piece together the circumstances surrounding the case.
While investigators eventually released both Palazuelos and Maddox without charges, their attorneys contend that the prolonged detention caused lasting personal and financial consequences. If the claims are not resolved through negotiations, the parties could move forward with a civil lawsuit against the sheriff’s office.
The case highlights the legal challenges that can arise during high-profile criminal investigations, where authorities must balance the urgency of solving serious crimes with protecting the constitutional rights of individuals who become part of the investigation. The outcome of the notice of claim could determine whether the dispute proceeds to court in the coming months.
