Pima County sheriff faces legal challenge in Nancy Guthrie investigation

Pima County sheriff has been caught in a legal challenge in the midst of Nancy’s, the mother of Savannah Guthrie, investigation.

Lawyers for two Arizona men including Carlos Palazuelos and Daniel Maddox issued a notice of claim against Pima County sheriff Chris Nanos and a detective, as reported by NBC News. 

The notice of claim serves a precursor to a potential lawsuit on the grounds of “wrongful arrest and property damage.”

Carlos Palazuelos, who was a man suspected in the Nancy investigation, was detained in February for questioning and later the department released him without any charges.

The notice claimed that deputies detained him at gunpoint on February 10 in a public manner and held for 7-8 hours without probable cause. He alleged that during the arrest, his home was “allegedly ransacked” resulting in physical, emotional and reputational harm.

It also says the sheriff Nanos publicly implied he was a suspect on social media and “being questioned in connection to the Nancy Guthrie investigation.”

The same day, another man Daniel Maddox was also arrested, remained handcuffed and held under guard near his home for several hours after being ordered to the ground by deputies in military gear. Daniel’s mother who owned the property also joined the claim regarding damage.

“Despite requests by undersigned counsel, Sheriff Nanos and the PCSD have refused to retract their statements or to make clear that Carlos is innocent and had no involvement in the Guthrie case,” the notice says.

Speaking about settlement demands, Carlos Palazuelos demanded $2.5 million. For Daniel Maddox and Josefina, the notice offers to settle claims worth $500,000 and $250,000 respectively.

After months-long search for Nancy, the investigation is still ongoing as the case remains active with complex DNA and digital evidence under way. On Thursday, Nanos clarified that hair retrieved from Nancy's home did not yield any DNA.

Nancy Guthrie went missing from her Tucson-area home on February 1.