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Person Detained for Questioning in Guthrie Case Released; FAA Closes El Paso Airspace for Ten Days Citing Security Reasons; Delayed January Jobs Report to be Released. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired February 11, 2026 - 07:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[07:00:00]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: There's some breaking developments in the search for Nancy Guthrie. Police have just released a man that they had questioned for hours. The FBI pleading for the public's help to identify, the person seen in this surveillance video just outside Nancy Guthrie's home the night she disappeared.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Also breaking this morning, the FAA halts all flights at El Paso International Airport for ten days for what they call special security reasons. Experts say it's the kind of thing they have not seen since September 11th, really not even then. So, what's going on here? What's the cause for concern?

And two men head to court today accused of robbing an armored security truck and getting into a shootout with police.

Sara is out today. I'm John Berman with Kate Bolduan, a lot going on. This is CNN News Central.

BOLDUAN: All right. Let's get straight to the breaking news this morning in the search for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie. Overnight, into the wee hours of this morning, a person who was detained brought in for questioning now released. That is according to affiliate KNXV. We're told a person was detained during a traffic stop in Rio Rico, Arizona, about 60 miles from the Tucson area where Nancy Guthrie lives and was last seen.

A local news reporter tells CNN that the man said -- who was questioned said that he didn't even know who Nancy Guthrie is, that he works as a delivery driver. Authorities also searched the vehicle and a home -- a vehicle and home in Rio Rico. A lot still churning just as you're waking up this morning.

That all comes on the heels of what really was a big break in this case, authorities releasing video and images, you've probably seen these now. They've been spread far and wide, showing a masked armed person at Nancy Guthrie's door the night she disappeared. Google technicians were able to recover the video from Guthrie's Nest camera several days into this investigation. Law enforcement -- a law enforcement source says they still do not know where Nancy Guthrie is.

CNN's Josh Campbell joins us live, and there is a lot going on this morning. I expect we'll learn more as these morning hours continue. What's the very latest? Are they back to square one now that this man questioned is released?

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Good morning, Kate. That was a significant development meant last night where we saw this police activity there south of Tucson. We still don't know why this individual was actually on the radar of law enforcement, why he was stopped and then question. The FBI director, Kash Patel, said last night that there were persons of interest, plural, persons of interest that authorities were looking into. They were working to determine how and if they might be associated with the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie. So, it's possible that there are other people, you know, behind the scenes that they continue to look at. We're just waiting to hear what that means. They're not just looking at one person, but more than one person.

Take a listen here to that man who actually spoke with reporters after being released.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, I hope they get the suspect because I'm not it. They better do their job and find the suspect that did it so they can clear my name and I'm done. Look at what I'm putting my family through. Not just then.

REPORTER: You're on national news now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not just then, even my parents in Tucson. Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMPBELL: Now, meantime, authorities did release that dramatic and chilling video yesterday where you actually see an individual approaching Nancy Guthrie's home during the evening time. This person is clothed from head to toe, wearing a mask. You also see a fire firearm on the person's waste. Authorities are appealing to the public right now for any tips on who this person might actually be. The FBI has said that they don't have any suspects identified, but they're pushing this video out there. They want eyes on, you know, as we've seen in past cases, any little detail that someone can look at, you know, even down to how someone walks, their gait, could actually trigger a tip from someone out there who might know this person.

And then, finally, we're hearing from Savannah Guthrie herself. She's saying that the family does believe that Nancy Guthrie is still alive, Kate.

[07:05:03]

And they also say that they're confident that someone out there knows who this individual on the video is. They want to hear from you. They want anyone with tips to call law enforcement at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

BOLDUAN: What else are you hearing is going on behind the scenes that the FBI is doing in order to try to identify the kidnapper? CAMPBELL: So, in addition to pushing this out and enlisting the public with their assistance, essentially crowdsourcing this investigation, we know in past cases that authorities would be looking at every single item on that person in that video, the mask, the clothing, the backpack that this individual had. And what they'll typically do is actually try to determine, well, where were those items actually sold? We've seen in investigations that authorities if they're able to identify, you know, the brand. They can at times find out where it was sold, go to the retail store, perhaps try to get transaction financial information as well.

That is meticulous. It's tedious. It takes time in order to do, but that is certainly something that is going on behind the scenes right now. And I think that we can expect to see, you know, additional law enforcement, you know, coming forward and additional resources. We know the FBI has surged resources into Arizona as they tried to search for Nancy Guthrie. Not only the forensic search, you know, around the residence, but also trying to feel all these tips that they now say are coming in.

BOLDUAN: Yes. And they have said that after releasing this surveillance -- this video from her home, they have seen an uptick in calls and tips coming in. But, again, they still are putting that FBI tip line out there, if anyone sees anything, recognizes anything in this video, to please call. John?

BERMAN: All right. With us now is the former deputy director of the FBI, CNN Senior Law Enforcement Analyst Andrew McCabe.

Andy, this obviously is a still from the video that really changed the nature of this investigation yesterday. I want to take it down for a second because I don't want people to infer that I'm talking now about the person in that video. What I am talking about is the person who was questioned overnight and then released. What does it tell you that this person was questioned, released, that there was a search at a location that may have been associated with this person, a lot of activity overnight, and for what now?

ANDREW MCCABE, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, John, I think you know what it tells us on the macro level is that the FBI has more going on than we're aware of, which is exactly what you want from the FBI. Initially, you know, when this person -- we learned that this person was taken into custody, I think we all started to assume that there was some sort of connection between the person taken into custody and the person you showed in the video, but there was never really any confirmation of that.

Now that we know the person detained was released, I think it's likely that that was someone who the FBI developed an interest in for some reason, like maybe from a tip that had been called in, maybe for some other purpose, and they had the opportunity to take that person into custody. They were probably concerned about the fact that they were traveling south towards the border with Mexico. And they took, you know, the opportunity presented itself for -- to interview this person to try to determine if they're in or out of the of the suspect pool, as it were. And, ultimately, that's what they determined. I don't think that release says anything negative about the images that you just had on your screen there and about the necessity to try to get that person identified.

BERMAN: All right. So, we're taking a look again at some of the freezes from this 44-second video on the screen here. You can see the individual identified. A lot of people talking -- we can't really draw with the way this is set up. You can see a lot of people talking about his gloves. There's the mustache you can see right there through the ski mask, other things, people are looking at, the backpack right there, the shoes. So, what are investigators doing with all of this new data, Andy?

MCCABE: Yes. So, each one of those elements presents a unique opportunity to identify and source the things that you're seeing on that video from the places that the person who's on the video may have acquired them. So, you want to locate if -- you want to identify those gloves. You want to figure out how many stores in the general area sell those gloves. And then you want to go to those stores and identify every transaction they've had. Involving those gloves over the past, you know, 30 days, 6 months, you know, pick a time.

And with every single element you just mentioned, with the sweatshirt, which is distinctive and can be identified, with the ski mask, which is also distinctive and can be identified, all these things provide opportunities to identify purchases. And when you begin to overlay those purchases one on top of the other, you create a population of potential suspects that you begin to narrow down.

[07:10:00]

And, ultimately, the people that you're left with have to be located, identified, and interviewed.

This is exactly the same technique we saw used with some success in the January 6th bomber case, right? We know they disassembled that unexploded device, both those devices. They sourced all the parts and where they could possibly have been purchased in the D.C. Metro area and then went from those purchase records to the person that was ultimately charged.

BERMAN: All of these new data points that investigators can try to cross reference, sort of hone in on different individuals here.

Andrew McCabe, a lot going on this morning, I appreciate you being with us. Kate?

BOLDUAN: Tracking more breaking news this morning, the FAA suddenly and immediately grounding all flights in and out of El Paso's airport. Shut down for ten days, citing special security reasons. What is going on?

And major news coming in on the economy this morning, why is the White House downplaying what's coming already?

And the deadliest school shooting in Canada in decades, at least nine people killed, dozens of people injured. What we are learning this morning about it all, the victims and the suspect.

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BERMAN: All right. Breaking this morning, what is happening in El Paso? The Federal Aviation Administration announced it's closing the airspace around El Paso, Texas, for the next ten days. The agency is citing unspecified special security reasons. This effectively shuts down the airport for the 23rd most populous city in the country, a city that's actually really hard to get to if you can't fly into that airport. Flight crews were stunned.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: El Paso is going to be shut down to air traffic for security reasons.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you know if there's any exceptions for med-evac status?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a great question. There is no exceptions. It's a complete ground stop.

And it's a complete ground stop. Not even med-evacs are allowed to fly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Yes, wow is right. You can hear how surprised they were. Analysts and experts are just as surprised. Overnight, El Paso International Airport issues this travel advisory, quote, all flights to and from El Paso are grounded, including commercial cargo and general aviation, adding the travelers should contact their airlines for information about, frankly, what to do.

With us now is Mary Schiavo, CNN transportation analyst. And, Mary, I don't want to say unprecedented, but I can't think of anything like this before.

MARY SCHIAVO, CNN TRANSPORTATION ANALYST: Well, no other than September 11, after September 11th, 2001, which, of course, that shutdown came too late, which is probably part of the considerations here. The FAA has the power to do this, but, of course, it's in conjunction with the national security intelligence information with TSA, Homeland Security, et cetera. But if they have a credible risk and a significant risk and if the risk presents some indication that the risk is capable of being done, that something could happen, then they not only can do this but they should do this.

And they came under tremendous criticism, deserved criticism after September 11, for having credible threats and knowing the threat vector, Osama bin Laden not acting. So, they're probably being very proactive, which is new and different for the FAA, but good. BERMAN: But the bar, in theory, is very high to do something like this, yes?

SCHIAVO: Yes. Yes. And what's interesting here is they have limited this to up to 18,000 feet. So, it won't affect flights, you know, transcontinental flights at 20,000 feet, 30,000 feet, 35,000 feet. So, whatever the security concern, threat, or it can be used for national defense purposes and for law enforcement purposes too, or for an intelligence that they're waiting to flesh out.

So, there are many reasons they can do this, but it goes up to 18,000 feet and not above. So, it's fairly limited and it has another area to the west of the airport. So, it's not just the airport. There's also an area where there are some military activities and it stops right at the Mexico border. So it's an interesting designated area.

BERMAN: Well, that just raises interesting possibilities, the possibility that maybe there is some military activity being planned for these days. I'm speculating, but it is one of the questions being raised.

SCHIAVO: Right. That's right. And that is one of the reasons that the FAA can do this. And, of course, not everyone in the FAA will know what the reasons are because -- you know, just because someone works in the tower air traffic controller, a TraCon, they may not have the security clearances and they can't risk this if it's particularly highly classified information that led to this. Only those with the matching security clearances would be provided the information. So, in the clip from the tower that you played where they didn't know why, that's not unusual. That would be actually according to the law and protocol,

BERMAN: You know, and as someone who's flowing in and out of El Paso a number of times, just so people know. If the airports closed there, it's hard to get to. It's not near much of anything in terms of driving. So, this is going to be a big issue for people trying to get there.

Mary Schiavo, obviously, we got a lot more to learn here, if we learn anything given the possibly classified nature of the information involved here. Thanks for explaining it so well to us.

We are standing by this morning for the release of a highly expected jobs report. The United States has been on a really bad run for jobs, one of the worst years in decades. The White House has been trying to downplay these numbers, so what will they show?

And then the Olympian who lost his parents in the horrific crash over the Potomac gets ready to take the ice.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: We're standing by this morning for new data, a critical check-in on the economy and the state of the U.S. labor market coming this morning in the January jobs report. Expectations are that 75,000 jobs were added last month, and an unemployment rate remaining at 4.4 percent. Again, stand by, we'll soon find out.

We now know that over the last 12 months, the economy posted its weakest year of job gains outside of a recession since 2003. This report will also include a number of revisions that economists will be paying close attention to.

But ahead of this new data, the White House is publicly trying to lower expect.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETER NAVARRO, WHITE HOUSE ADVISER: One thing I want to note, the jobs reports coming to come out tomorrow.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

NAVARRO: We have to revise our expectations down significantly for what a monthly job number should look like. When we were letting in 2 million illegal aliens, it just -- they're coming in, coming in, we had to produce 200,000 jobs a month for a steady state. And, by the way, all of the jobs that we were creating in Biden years were going to illegals. Americans were going to the unemployment lines. That's totally reversed. And now 50,000 a month is going to be more like what we need.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Here with me now, Madison Mills, senior reporter with Axios. Thanks for coming in.

Talk to me first about the expectations.

MADISON MILLS, SENIOR REPORTER, AXIOS: Yes.

BOLDUAN: What about -- what are economists saying and how are they feeling about this?

MILLS: Well, I was just texting with one economist who told me their expectation is zero jobs added, which would be a huge negative. But just to the point of the number that you pointed out, people are all over the map. Some people think that we're going to have a beat and we'll have over 70,000. So, it goes to show how difficult it is to suss out the state of the labor market right now. That's part of what the White House is kind of mentioning as well, is this kind of murkiness around where we're at with the labor market and hopefully those revisions today also give a little bit of clarity to that as well.

BOLDUAN: Let's talk about though the murkiness that the White House is pointing to. Peter Navarro giving -- I'm going to -- I'll call it a prebuttal of what's about to come and blaming immigration on what is to come, saying -- I mean, saying all the jobs during the Biden administration went to people in the country illegally. I think there's no basis for that. But how much of a real factor -- how much are you hearing about this as a factor in what we will be seeing?

MILLS: Well, it is true that the crackdown on immigration is putting pressure on the labor market. What I would want to fact-check most there though is this idea that that doesn't matter. Like the immigrants who are getting employed over the course of the Biden administration, that still contributes to economic growth.

BOLDUAN: Right.

MILLS: That still contributes to a lower unemployment --

BOLDUAN: A low number is now a great number is not fact.

MILLS: Exactly, exactly. And now some of those jobs are just going unfilled because we don't have the workers here to take on those jobs. And that can also weigh on certain industries.

BOLDUAN: Talk to me about revisions, because revisions were not necessarily in years past something that we really even focused on other than economists, but it has become a huge story in the last year, really last maybe couple years. Why is this? And what is that likely to mean in terms of what the White House does and how much weight people can put in these numbers now?

MILLS: One of the challenges of the revisions is that it becomes a talking point to kind of prebutt the data before it even comes out. We had that record-breaking revision over the course of the last 12 months, looking at the jobs of 2024, and it was a million less than was originally anticipated for the economy. So, all of that can be used to kind of sow doubt about the labor market and the data coming out.

BOLDUAN: So, stand by to stand by and stay close, please.

It's great to see, Madison. Thank you for coming in.

So, breaking overnight, a person taken in for questioning and now that person released, what we're hearing from him now. But this, what you're looking at here, is separate. This is surveillance video that has been put out coming from Nancy Guthrie's door Ring camera and what it took to get that video and what authorities are asking as they're still searching for her kidnapper.

And the Trump administration pulls down pride flags from Stonewall, the birthplace of the gay rights movement. Why and the blowback they're now facing.

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