A man detained Wednesday afternoon in connection with the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie was released late that evening after questioning, with authorities stating he is no longer considered a person of interest. The individual, identified as 38-year-old delivery driver Marco Reyes, spoke briefly to reporters outside the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, visibly shaken but adamant about his innocence. “I’m just a delivery driver,” he said. “I delivered groceries to that neighborhood twice last month. I never kidnapped anybody. I don’t know anything about what happened to that poor lady.”
Reyes had been stopped around 3:15 p.m. near the Catalina Foothills residence after matching a vague description provided by a neighbor who reported seeing a man lingering near the property days before the abduction. He was wearing dark clothing and carrying a backpack—elements that loosely aligned with the masked suspect captured on Nancy’s Google Nest doorbell camera tampering with the device on February 1. Authorities took him into custody for questioning after discovering he had made multiple deliveries in the area, including one to a house two doors down from Nancy’s on January 29.
During the nearly five-hour interview, Reyes cooperated fully, providing his delivery logs, GPS records from his company vehicle, and access to his phone. Cell tower data and dash-cam footage from his work van confirmed he was across town making another delivery at the time Nancy’s pacemaker disconnected at 2:30 a.m. on February 1. Surveillance from a nearby convenience store showed him purchasing coffee at 1:45 a.m., more than 20 miles away. Detectives also reviewed body-worn camera footage from the initial stop, noting no visible signs of injury, blood, or other physical evidence linking him to the scene.
The FBI issued a brief statement late Wednesday: “The individual detained earlier today has been released after voluntary cooperation and alibi verification. He is not currently considered a suspect or person of interest. The investigation remains active and focused on multiple leads.” The release has frustrated some online commentators who believed the quick detention signaled a breakthrough, but law enforcement sources emphasize that eliminating false leads is as important as identifying the correct one.
The detention occurred amid mounting pressure in the 17-day-old case. Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, vanished from her Tucson home after being abducted in what investigators have classified as a targeted kidnapping. Key evidence includes blood drops matching her DNA on the front porch, a disconnected pacemaker, her phone and Apple Watch left behind, multiple ransom notes demanding Bitcoin, and doorbell footage showing a masked individual deliberately disabling the camera with foliage and a gloved hand. Most disturbingly, Savannah discovered a hidden microphone-equipped pet tracker sewn into the dog’s collar, containing a seven-minute audio file capturing Nancy’s terrified plea: “Please… don’t hurt me… I’ll give you whatever you want,” followed by duct tape ripping and heavy footsteps.
The black glove found 250 yards from the home during a grid search on February 11 remains in forensic analysis, with priority on touch DNA and fiber comparison. The microphone device has been traced to a Shenzhen-based custom electronics supplier, purchased anonymously in December 2025 and shipped through a mail-forwarding service. Investigators are urgently re-interviewing anyone with routine access to Nancy or her dog Daisy—dog walkers, gardeners, home health aides, neighbors, delivery personnel—in search of who could have installed the tracker undetected.
Reyes’ brief detention highlights the challenges of the investigation. The suspect’s disguise in the doorbell footage—ski mask, gloves, long sleeves, backpack—makes visual identification nearly impossible. The ransom notes’ specificity suggests either prolonged surveillance or inside knowledge. The audio recording proves premeditation and raises the possibility of a personal motive beyond pure financial gain.
Savannah Guthrie has remained steadfast in public appeals. On Instagram she reposted the FBI’s latest statement with a message: “We are grateful for every agency working around the clock. Every lead matters—even when it doesn’t pan out. Mom is still out there. Please keep sharing, keep watching, keep calling tips to 1-800-CALL-FBI or Pima County Sheriff at 520-351-4900. We love you, Mom. Come home.”
The reward fund now exceeds $525,000 through private donations, media partnerships, and increased contributions from high-profile supporters. Digital billboards across 20 states display Nancy’s photo, the suspect’s doorbell image, the pet tracker, and the black glove. President Donald Trump, who has followed the case closely since viewing the initial footage, reiterated his call for information: “This is a disgraceful crime against an innocent elderly woman. Whoever did this must be brought to justice quickly.”
Forensic teams continue working on the microphone’s metadata, hoping to recover deleted fragments, geotagged coordinates, or additional audio that could pinpoint locations after Nancy was removed from the house. The black glove is being cross-referenced with fibers from the damaged foliage on the welcome mat and adhesive residue from the collar modification.
As the case enters its third week, the release of Reyes serves as both a setback and a reminder of the painstaking process required to separate innocent bystanders from the true perpetrator. The hidden microphone, the terrified voice on the recording, the black glove, the blood drops—all remain pieces of a puzzle that grows more disturbing with each revelation. Somewhere in Tucson—or beyond—someone holds the answers.
The Guthrie family clings to hope that Nancy, a gentle woman who loved her dog and her community, is still alive. Every tip, every clue, every hour counts. The plea remains simple and urgent: if you know anything, come forward. Bring Nancy home.