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Savannah Guthrie Says, We Still Have Hope and We Still Believe; Partial Government Shutdown as DHS Funding Talks At an Impasse; Opening Statement in Trial of Accused Georgia School Shooter's Father. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired February 16, 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: This morning, a new plea from Savannah Guthrie, what her message is now to the person or people who abducted her mother now three weeks ago.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: His son is accused of killing four people in a school shooting. Today, the father goes on trial for murder. Opening statements begin in a case that could expand legal responsibility for mass shootings.

And fire on the mountain and above it and around it well, a volcanic eruption 3,500 feet into the sky.

Sara is out today. I'm John Berman with Kate Bolduan. This is CNN News Central.

BOLDUAN: The breaking news this morning, a new plea from Savannah Guthrie as the search for her mother, Nancy, now begins a third week. With no suspect and no motive established, Savannah Guthrie still says there is hope and there is still time. She speaks directly to her mother's abductor in this new video posted on social media. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, TODAY ANCHOR: We still have hope and we still believe. And I wanted to say to whoever has her or knows where she is that it's never too late and you're not lost or alone, and it is never too late to do the right thing.

And we are here and we believe. And we believe in the essential goodness of every human being.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: The latest from investigators is authorities are waiting for the final forensic results from DNA found on a glove about two miles from Nancy Guthrie's home in Arizona. Those results could come back today. The FBI says it appears to visually match at least the glove worn by the suspect in the doorbell cam video from the night Nancy was abducted. Still a source close to the investigation tells CNN that there is no leading theory behind what drove, what motivated Guthrie's disappearance. Investigators are examining all possibilities, including it was a burglary gone wrong or a targeted abduction. John?

BERMAN: All right. With us now, former FBI agent Bryanna Fox. Bryanna, thank you so much for being with us.

Let's start with this glove, which is being tested right now. It's out for testing. The FBI says the glove they have does match the glove seen in this doorbell video by appearance. If it comes back and there is some kind of identifiable DNA on it, what then do they do?

BRYANNA FOX, FORMER FBI AGENT: Right. Well, I mean, this is also a huge thing. We had the video. We've now found this glove and there's potential DNA on it. So, obviously, we don't have that direct link yet from this glove to the scene. So, that's what investigators are going to do. They said that it appears to be a visual match, but they're going to have to confirm that if they're going to get an arrest warrant and take this case to trial.

Additionally, they're going to want to search through CODIS. That is the FBI's database that houses all the information for everyone arrested or DNA found at crime scenes. They're going to code through all of that. And if they don't find it, then they're going to go out to additional DNA options.

BERMAN: So, this new video from Savannah, which I'll play without audio right here, just so people can see it, she sends this message, it's never too late, she says. Who do you think that's directed to? Why that choice of words, why this messaging now?

FOX: I have been so moved by all of Savannah's posts, and in particular this one. I thought that the call to empathy that she has, we do this a lot in interviews and interrogations.

[07:05:01]

You could be so angry and horrified by the offense that this person committed. But appealing to them as a person, trying to speak to them directly, building rapport, that's actually what gets the best results. So, I thought what Savannah did was so brave, and she's trying to say to this person, you know, I'm not mad at you. I just want my mother home, and you are still a good person if you do that. So, I thought that was fantastic. It could yield great results.

BERMAN: And finally, you know, over the weekend, especially early in the weekend, we were getting word of these searches that were happening in the neighborhood of Nancy Guthrie's home. You can see the home is right here. There was a search at a home and there was a search of a vehicle not too far away. We don't know, frankly, what came of these searches, but what does it tell you that they may still be focused on this general area?

FOX: Right. There could be something like a bloodhound, you know, something that led them to that area, and that's where the scent went cold, so to speak. So, they may think, well, there's some reason to believe that she's still in this area. Additionally, they could have a lot of tips coming in all stating we've seen things, heard things all about this area that that's really the hot zone. So, it seems like they are zoning in on that, you know, Rio Rico and the Catalina Foothills. So, for all we know, that's where the investigation is leading them. They just have not notified the public of that yet.

BERMAN: It's still been a day or two since we've seen any activity like this. We will see if it picks up again today.

Bryonna Fox, thank you very much. Kate?

BOLDUAN: This morning, Washington's waking up to another partial government shutdown in full effect. Congress is not there, sent home for a President's Day recess. As it stands right now, there's a whole lot of posturing and positioning and very few signs of movement towards any resolution.

The shutdown is centered around the fight we've talked about so much over the Department of Homeland Security, specifically ICE. Democrats are standing by their demands that ICE agents and operations get reined in before they're ready to agree to fund the broader Department of Homeland Security any further. Republicans though not budging either.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): We have a rogue agency. Why don't we rein them in? That's what the American people are asking Republicans and that's why they're going to have to go along with us.

SEN. MARKWAYNE MULLIN (R-OK: This isn't about actually opening DHS back. This is about waiting until the president is done giving the State of the Union, which is a week from Tuesday, which is why I said this is nothing but political theater.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Joining me right now, Congressional Reporter for NOTUS Danielle Diaz with much more. Danielle, it's good to see you.

What are you hearing from your sources about where things are headed, let's just say, in the next couple days? I mean, we can't -- none of us can look a week ahead anymore.

DANIELLE DIAZ, CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT, NOTUS: Kate, you pointed out the biggest issue happening right now, and it's that lawmakers are not in Washington. They're not here negotiating on Capitol Hill with the White House on how to end this Department of Homeland Security shutdown. It's the only department that's shut down right now, the only appropriations bill that Congress was unable to pass last week to prevent the shutdown because of those decisions that they can't agree on how to rein in ICE and CBP.

So, what we're going to see is a lot of back and forth from the White House and Democratic leaders. They've been the ones negotiating directly with the White House, it's not been Republican leaders on Capitol Hill negotiating with Democrats, to see where they can land on a deal. So far, Democrats have told me, my sources have told me all of last week, over the weekend, that they're at a -- they're still at a standstill. They basically have several sticking points, including that they want to ban face masks on ICE agents. They want ICE agents and CBP officials to have to get judicial warrants, so a warrant from a judge to be able to do any of their immigration enforcement.

So, there's still a lot of things that they have not been able to figure out and they're not anywhere near figuring it out. And it could push back that date that we just heard that Republican lawmaker talk about the State of the Union.

BERMAN: This shutdown is slightly different. You're already getting at that. ICE operations are largely funded still because of the bill passed over the summer. Other agencies within DHS will feel the brunt of this impact. How does that impact these negotiations or lack thereof?

DIAZ: Well, look, Kate, in the past, when we've seen TSA not being paid, but still essential staff, it slows down operations at airports. Those kinds of things affect everyday Americans, and that is usually what changes the negotiations on trying to end a shutdown. We could see that happen again.

FEMA is not funded right now, but is still essential. That is another agency that needs to happen. And if they're not receiving funding, that could affect operations that are essential. DHS does not only fund ICE and Customs and Border Protection.

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It's all these other essential agencies that need to be funded as well, and that could lead to potentially having something solved between Democrats and Republicans sooner rather than later.

But, again, they're not in Washington this week and the likelihood of trying to pass any sort of funding negotiations this week is probably not going to happen.

BOLDUAN: Danielle, thank you so much for your great reporting on this.

This morning, the trial begins for a father facing criminal charges. Pardon me. We'll be right back.

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Opening statements set to begin today in the trial of a father whose son is accused of killing four people at a Georgia high school. Investigators say Colin Gray gave his son the gun he used in the shooting despite being questioned about previous threats. Gray has pleaded not guilty. With us now is CNN's Jean Casarez, who has been covering the story again from the beginning. Opening statement begins shortly. What do you expect?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, opening statement's 9:00. But before that, the jury that was selected outside of the county has to be bused in, and it's about 30 minutes away. So, at 8:30, they'll all get on a bus together and come.

And it was not easy to get a jury, John, because a lot of the potential jurors said, we know the facts here. We know he bought his son a gun after his son had posted online months earlier, I want to shoot up the high school, and we can't be a juror. But it's eight men, seven women, including alternates. So, they did get a jury that said they could be fair and really listen to the evidence.

But once the openings happen, I think the issue -- first of all, there's almost 30 counts. There's second-degree murder, there's involuntary manslaughter, child cruelty. Because at this school shooting at Apalachee High School there were two teachers that were killed, there were two students that were killed and there were multiple 14-year-old young, minor children, students that were injured. And so he is charged with all of that.

And this is, once again, precedent setting for Georgia, third time in this country that a parent is charged with what his son allegedly did, pulled the trigger. He didn't pull the trigger. But because of that foreseeability, that knowledge that he had, that his son had a mindset to want to shoot up the school, that gave him a responsibility.

BERMAN: And the prosecution will try to prove that foreseeability because of conversations that had happened well before that, correct?

CASAREZ: That's right, absolutely. And you're going to see school officials. You're going to see Georgia Bureau Investigation. Here are some things -- we know that there are members of the Colt family that are going to get there. And Colt is the son. He's not had his trial yet. He's pleaded not guilty, but he could take the stand for his father.

BERMAN: All right.

CASAREZ: He could take the stand and say, look, it was me. It wasn't my dad. It did not happen in Crumbley, Jennifer and James Crumbley in Michigan. We'll see if it happens here.

BERMAN: And, again, there was a change of venue here, but the change was like 30 minutes down the street. So, these are people who very well know what's been going on.

CASAREZ: Absolutely.

BERMAN: Jean Casarez, you'll be watching this the minute it begins, opening statements at 9:00 A.M. You can all watch it on the CNN app and cnn.com. Thank you. The Department of Justice sends Congress a list of hundreds of prominent people named in the Epstein file. The thing is the list includes Elvis Presley, who died in 1977. So, how serious is this effort? Members of Congress are infuriated.

This morning, it is not over for Ilia Malinin. What we are learning about his new plans after his disastrous finish and figure skating.

And the official hype man for CNN News Central, the one and only Flavor Flav sits down with Coy Wire at the Olympics.

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BOLDUAN: U.S. skating star Ilia Malinin is charging on. The quad god will skate in the Olympics exhibition Saturday. That will be a week after what was really disappointing after failing to medal, even medal in the men's long program, which he was favored to win.

CNN's Coy Wire tracking all of this for us and joining us now. Coy, what happened and what is happening?

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Well, Ilia said he was so poised after that disappointment. He said, there's nothing like the Olympic stage, Kate. He did fail to medal in men's figure skating, but CNN Contributor Christine Brennan's reporting that Malinin actually plans to skate in the last figure skating event, which is a popular Olympics exhibition gala with top medalists on Saturday, and that he's decided to compete at the 2026 World Championships. They're just next month in Prague, where he will defend his world title.

Now, also there were high hopes for team USA superstar skier Mikaela Schiffrin at these games, the winningest alpine skier of all time. She finished 11th at yesterday's giant slalom. I was there to see it. And for some perspective on how close these races are, she finished just tenths of a second behind the gold medal.

But she still has a chance, Kate, to medal at these games. She will be competing in the slalom on Wednesday. That is her best event.

USA men's hockey wrapping up group stage play here against Germany. After a slow start, they kicked into domination mode.

Zach Werenski ripping a rooster (ph) to open the scoring, team captain Austin Matthews leading the way with two goals into the assist. USA wins, remaining unbeaten with a 5-1 win over -- they will await the winners of Sweden or Latvia. Incredible game there for them as they enter the knockout stages.

Now, Flavor Flav came to the WBD House here in Cortina, bringing the same joy that he brings with him everywhere he goes. He is using his platform to help brighten the lights on these Olympians, especially the women chasing dreams with USA bobsled and skeleton. He went to Park City and decided he wanted to try skeleton ahead of the games. Flav told me why he decided to hurl himself face first down a tube of ice. Kate, listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FLAVOR FLAV, USA BOBSLED AND SKELETON HYPE MAN: That ride was crazy, but I really enjoyed it. And see, I'm an adrenaline junkie.

WIRE: Yes.

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FLAVOR FLAV: You know, I'm a big kid. I never grew up. You know what I'm saying? I like exciting things. And then I saw them, I saw the skeleton. I said, oh my God, I got to try that. I topped out at 66 miles per hour, bro.

WIRE: Oh.

FLAVOR FLAV: I enjoyed it so much, Coy, I joined the team.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: From fight the power to fight the powder and the ICE, they also changed public enemy he got game to she got game, as they support the women of bobsled and skeleton. He'll actually get to keep practicing to see if he can make the next Olympics, Kate. For now, Flav will be rooting for the three American women competing in mono bob, Elana Meyers Taylor, Kaylee Humphies, Kaysha Love going for gold tonight.

BOLDUAN: Coy, one of our favorite interviews of recent was when Flav came on and was talking about what was coming, and teasing too how his big support of the Olympics. He is such a joy. He's so much fun. You could -- I can imagine how infectious his energy is in person. We even deemed him the official hype man of CNN News Central.

I think it was a little wishful thinking, but, you know, he might still consider the offer.

WIRE: Yes, boy, that's, right.

BOLDUAN: I mean, who needs Flavor Flav when you've got Coy Wire? What am I even saying? Love you, buddy. Thank you so much. So much fun.

All right, coming up for us right now, evacuations are underway in Los Angeles. 19 million people are facing a flood risk, really serious threat out there. We have the latest in the forecast and what's coming.

And an incredible rescue to tell you about. A skier found alive after a terrifying avalanche in the Alps.

And a new twist on the phrase, when life hands you lemons, this time when life hands you a foot of snow, apparently, you make an ice cream truck.

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