Tucson Man Detained in Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Case Speaks Out

Luke Daley says he has no information about the disappearance and was wrongly accused

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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After Luke Daley and his mother were briefly detained by police in relation to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 37-year-old Tucson resident spoke out about his experience. Daley said he was handcuffed and had his home and vehicle searched, but maintains he has no information about Nancy's possible abductors and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Authorities have since confirmed the Guthrie family, including all siblings and spouses, have been cleared as suspects in the case.

Why it matters

The Nancy Guthrie disappearance case has gripped the Tucson community, with authorities declaring her home a crime scene and believing she may have been abducted. The detention of Daley and his mother raised questions about the investigation, but this statement helps clarify that the Guthrie family is not involved and that police are still searching for answers about what happened to the 84-year-old.

The details

In a interview with True Crime Arizona host Briana Whitney, Daley said he was detained for "four or five hours," during which time he was handcuffed and had his vehicle and home searched by police. Daley maintains he has no connection to Nancy's disappearance and believes he was wrongly accused, saying "All the dates I was telling them where I was, all you have to do is look at my phone and see my location. It was nowhere near anywhere or have any connection to this." Authorities have not explained why Daley and his mother were initially detained, but have since confirmed the Guthrie family is not involved.

  • On February 13, Luke Daley and his mother were briefly detained by police in relation to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.
  • Two weeks after his detainment, Daley spoke out about his experience in an interview on February 27.

The players

Luke Daley

A 37-year-old Tucson resident who was briefly detained by police in relation to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, but maintains he has no involvement in the case.

Nancy Guthrie

An 84-year-old Tucson woman who was reported missing on February 1 after her family could not locate her at her home, leading authorities to declare her residence a crime scene.

Pima County Sheriff's Department

The law enforcement agency investigating the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, which has included searching her home, obtaining a federal search warrant, and clearing the Guthrie family as suspects.

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What they’re saying

“I don't. If I did, I would happily tell [the] FBI, police anything. I, like everyone else, just want Nancy to come home and be safe. But that being said, I have nothing to do with this case, and that's it.”

— Luke Daley (True Crime Arizona)

“All the dates I was telling them where I was, all you have to do is look at my phone and see my location. It was nowhere near anywhere or have any connection to this.”

— Luke Daley (True Crime Arizona)

What’s next

Authorities continue to investigate Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, including analyzing evidence collected from her home and pursuing leads. The FBI has also increased the reward for information leading to Nancy's location or the arrest of anyone involved in her disappearance.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in high-profile missing persons investigations, where early suspicions can turn out to be unfounded. The clearing of the Guthrie family as suspects underscores the importance of thorough and impartial investigations, even as the search for Nancy Guthrie continues.