As the search for Savannah Guthrie's missing mother hits the six-month mark - a milestone that's decidedly less festive than it sounds - two men have decided they'd rather have their day in court than remain footnote suspects in a saga that's gone cold. Carlos Palazuelos and Daniel Maddox have filed a notice of claim against Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos and a detective, seeking a combined $3.25 million for wrongful arrest, reputational damage, and what we can only assume is a very thorough cleaning bill.

The case began on February 1, when Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen safe at her Tucson, Arizona home. Authorities, including the FBI, suspect kidnapping, but despite blood spatters and a parade of leads, they've got no suspects and no trace of the matriarch. The Pima County Sheriff's Department marked the occasion on social media with a rousing "The Guthrie investigation remains active and ongoing" and a plea for credible information - because nothing says 'we're on it' like a six-month-old cold case.

Savannah Guthrie, the NBC Today Show anchor, posted an Instagram video this week declaring the family has "done our part" but still lives in a "nightmare that will not end." Meanwhile, Palazuelos and Maddox are living their own nightmare, albeit one with a potential payout. Palazuelos, detained on February 10 and released without charge, claims his home was "ransacked" and his reputation dragged through the mud, seeking $2.5 million. Maddox, handcuffed outside his mother's home - which was searched and allegedly damaged - wants $500,000, while his mother Josefina is asking for $250,000 in property damages. Because if you're going to have your life upended, you might as well get compensated for the inconvenience.

The action, a precursor to a full lawsuit, also takes aim at Nanos's social media post that suggested a person had been arrested and was being questioned in connection with the investigation. Apparently, that little update made Palazuelos look like a suspect to the entire world - a PR disaster that money can't fix, but $2.5 million might soothe.

Nanos, who has been in the hot seat since the beginning, previously clashed with the FBI over claims he withheld evidence (he denies it). He survived an ousting attempt in May, and this week traded barbs with FBI Director Kash Patel, who claimed agents were "not let in for four days." Nanos called Patel "misinformed" on the Sharpe Exchange podcast, noting they've never even spoken face-to-face. "When information is put out there that's not accurate, it hurts the case," he said - a statement dripping with irony, given the circumstances.

Meanwhile, the Guthrie family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy's safe return, with the FBI chipping in an extra $100,000 for conclusive info. They're also looking for a man approximately 5ft 9in to 5ft 10in tall with an average build - which, we're told, describes roughly 40% of the male population. So if you see a guy who looks kind of average, you might be sitting on a fortune.