Woman Testifies About Suspect in Nancy Guthrie Case – He Is Her Son-in-Law

A quiet Arizona neighborhood was thrust into the spotlight this week when police descended on a modest Rio Rico home amid the frantic search for the 84‑year‑old mother of three after a startling tip claimed she was hidden inside.

Authorities searched the property as part of their investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, following a report that she might be inside the residence.

Homeowner Speaks Out After Cops Storm Property

The woman who lives there, identified by CNN only as Josefina, said officers arrived after receiving information that Nancy was in her house. She insisted she cooperated fully.

"They had somebody give a tip that the lady was in my house," Josefina said. "I told them you can go in and search my house, there is nobody there. I have nothing to hide."

Josefina revealed that her son-in-law is now being investigated in connection with the case and was detained by authorities. However, she firmly denied he had anything to do with the troubling disappearance.

In a video shared on social media, she described the unsettling police presence. "They keep going in and out of my house, taking pictures, and I don't know why," she said.

When asked whether her son-in-law had been detained, she confirmed, "Yeah, he was detained. They showed me a video to see if it was him. To see if I recognize the thing he was wearing. He doesn't have any of that. He doesn't have any of those things that came under the video."

Officers also showed her surveillance images from Nancy Guthrie's house. "From the house? Yeah, they showed me the picture," she said. Asked if it resembled him, she replied, "No, it doesn't look like him."

Josefina said officers broke down her door while she was away in Tucson and were still searching when she returned, adding she did not receive a clear answer when she asked if they had a search warrant.

"I'm sorry what's happened to (the Guthries)," she said. "I don't know her, I don't know anything about their lives or what's going on, but I'm so sorry - whoever took her, I hope she got back safe."

Electronics Seized as Family Identifies Detained Man

Authorities continued combing through the Rio Rico home as new details surfaced about the man being held and what investigators removed from the property.

Reporter Brian Entin said he spoke with the mother-in-law of the man in custody. She confirmed she owns the home and that there is an active search warrant. According to her, investigators seized electronic devices during the search — a development that signals authorities are now scrutinizing potential digital evidence.

Despite the escalating probe, she once again insisted her son-in-law had nothing to do with Nancy Guthrie's disappearance. In another video clip shared online, the woman identified her son-in-law as Carlos.

She said he had never spoken about Nancy Guthrie and that she only recognized the name after seeing it on Facebook when news reports began circulating. She said she did not read the stories because she did not know who Nancy was.

She also described the moment officers entered her home in stark detail. "They broke my door. They went inside. My son was playing on his Nintendo. He had his headphones on. They put him in handcuffs and took him outside," she said. She added that Carlos works as a delivery driver. "Does something like FedEx or something like that."

Heavy Police Presence Captured on Video as Online Reactions Explode

Video shared by KGUN9 shows a heavy police presence during a traffic stop in Rio Rico that led to the detainment of a person connected to the case. Multiple police vehicles can be seen in the footage, underscoring the intensity of the unfolding investigation.

As the videos spread, social media quickly erupted. One person wrote, "Wow, she should not be talking. So they think the person they have is the one in the video." Another commenter posted, "Nancy Guthrie investigation makes progress." A third person expressed, "This poor woman — can someone tell her not to say anything until she has an attorney present."

The investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance remains ongoing as authorities continue examining the evidence gathered from the home and the detained individual, leaving the community anxiously waiting for answers.