curtis. peter theo curtis was a fluent arabic speaker, fluent french speaker, also spoke german and russian. october 2012, while traveling inside syria to report on the civil war there, american journalist theo curtis was abducted and ultimately held in captivity for 22 months by a group called al nusra front, al qaeda affiliated radical syrian group. theo curtis is not one of the americans held in captivity who's had his name widely publicized. jim foley's name had been publicized before he was killed in a video posted online by the radical group isis last week. theo curtis' family had taken a different approach. they decided to keep his name out of the press in the hope that that might be part of the way they could try to keep him safe as they tried to negotiate for his release. but yesterday, the curtis family was able to announce that he had been freed. and the news that he's out of captivity and in safe hands and on his way home has also freed up information about him and his captivity t

curtis is serving a 25-year sentence for robbery.the wrong side of the road. the result of that, i lost my wife, i lost my kids. i made one decision, one bad decision in life, and it got me 25 years, which i'll be 48 when i get out, which i was 22 when i came in here. >> the program at the prison gives inmates the opportunity to box against fighters from rival institutions. in just a few days curtis will travel with the boxing team to a nearby state penitentiary where he will compete for the title in his weight division. >> to just get in that ring and fight, you got to be a stone warrior to fight, especially in prison fighting because i think it's more harder than professional fights. if i take this belt, if i win, i'm the man. i mean, nobody has beat this cat for three to four years, and if i beat him i'm the big man on the compound. nobody tell me nothing. >> one way in which curtis draws inspiration is through his family. >> i brought him in. >> two days before this fight, curtis's mother, sister, and niece traveled to elayn hunt

thee oh, curtis is a free man tonight. while his family is hoping he'll be home soon after nearly two years of waiting, they are taking it one day at a time. >> reporter: today his mother describes speaking with his son for the first time since his release. >> what was that like? >> it was wonderful. usually he doesn't have a whole lot to say to me. he's a typical guy, hi mom, yeah, everything is fine. but he was so excited. he was saying, mom, they're being so nice to me, and they put me in this 12-star hotel. he was over the top excited. i think obviously he has to decompress. he's been through so much. >> reporter: the 45-year-old freelance journalist falling into the hands of syrian militants loyal to al qaeda, a different terror group than the isis extremists who brutally murdered james foley. after nine months of silence, shadow oh, evidence of his whereabouts. sharing the first information about his captivity with curtis. >> he escaped. your son tried to follow and couldn't get through the hole. >> there was nobody

curtis was a new name. he changed it after publishing "undercover muslim", ha changed it -- he changed it. his release came on the same day a funeral was held for james foley, the journalist beheaded by islamic state. the americans are fighting from the air. a rare success for one american headed home. >>> qatar's minister issued this statement about its role in the release of peter theo curtis, saying:. >> "tackle these" -- tom ackerman has more. >> secretary of state john kerry says that the u.s. is using every tool at its disposal to bet the release of four other -- get the release of four other americans in captivity, held by four other groups. the family said - gave a little more details to media about the circumstances of his release, saying that they approached the qatari ambassador to the u.n., and at that point avenues of communication were opened with the captors, who had at one point asked for millions of dollars in ransom. once a proof of life video was produced, establishing that curtis was, in

more details, as well, on the release of peter curtis. you for joining us. >>> we will take you to ferguson, missouri where things are calm today as the town gets ready for michael brown's funeral tomorrow. he was 18. moderate to severe is tough, but i've managed. i got to be pretty good at managing my symptoms, except that managing my symptoms was all i was doing. when i finally told my doctor, he said my crohn's was not under control. he said humira is for adults like me who have tried other medications but still experience the symptoms of moderate to severe crohn's disease. and that in clinical studies, the majority of patients on humira saw significant symptom relief. and many achieved remission. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened; as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you've been t

this is video of peter curtis. this afternoon, a memorial for murdered american journalist james foley was just held in rochester, new hampshire. foley's execution at the hands of isis terrorists was posted for the world to see and the man who murdered him now may be the world's most famous terrorists. british authorities telling us they are close to identifying that isis extremist who has that london accent. cnn military analyst major general "spider" marks is joining me now. lots to talk about. i want to start with this new information. you've been an intelligence officer in that part of the world including syria. what is your reaction to the release of hostage peter curtis? >> clearly those that held peter curtis were not isis, at least we understand that another group took credit for this and then released him. they are looking to exact some benefit or it's to their benefit they released him. the united states needs to be careful. we don't want to enter into a relationship -- what i would call a tactical relati

peter curtis was held by al qaeda.here is we're seeing a new dynamic, seeing that qatar was involved and has been involved with al qaeda in the region for a long time, and for sectarian reasons have been funding the group to actually take on the shia controlled regime in syria. we're seeing that qatar now is playing a very dangerous game of being an intermediary between the u.s. and its allies and al qaeda. although i'm very pleased and happy for the family of peter curtis that he's released and safe, there are another 20 -- approximately another 20 foreign nationals held as hostage, and i wonder if we're setting a dangerous precedent by negotiating with al qaeda terrorists. it's something that certainly we don't seem to have done in the past, and i'm just worried that we don't get into a situation where -- if you excuse my mixed metaphors, that we actually are caught between the devil and a hard rock where we seem to be supporting an organization, let's not forget, that did 9/11 and a number of other terrorist activit

peter curtis, the times we've seen him in the past, chilling. >> theo curtis, july 18. >> after nearly two years of imprisonment, peter curtis is now a free man, escaping the state of another journalist, james foley who was brutally executed by isis fighters. we'll have the latest on curtis' ordeal. >>> also today, a scary wake-up for people in napa valley, california, ace strong earthquake shakes the area. dozens are injured, while wineries are weighing how much damage has been done to that multibillion dollar industry. >>> we'll begin, though, in california, in a state of emergency after a strong 6.0 earthquake rattled bay area residents out of their beds early this morning. downtown napa took the brunt of the impact, causing structural fires and historical buildings to collapse. at least 120 people were injured, 3 critically, including a young child. but luckily, to this point new york reported deaths. across the region, stretches of roadways split in two. the picturesque wineries that mark the countryside seeing extensive damage. in a news conference, just moments ago, the fire chi

so how do they have the influence to get curtis freed without paying any ransom? they lying about paying a ransom? they were able to get about a dozen nuns released that were also help by al nusra. again, curtis was held by a group aligned with al qaeda, but somehow qatar gets him out. and i'm just -- it's very -- it's terrible when these governments have these double games when they work with jihadists on one hand and you know, deny it -- >> and arguably, you could say, well, look, they have some influence if they're the unwithes funding these jihadists. at the same time, it's hard to see how they would make a deal without more money being passed or some other kind of deal. >> these groups, i saw it in my case, they spend lots of money feeding the hostage, they spend manpower, all these guards, they move the hostage around to different areas, controlled by different commanders. so they can't just give up the hostage and have nothing to show, clearly for their own internal politics. they have to have a result. so there must have been something that happened here.

christine romans, curtis dubay, thanks so both of you. i appreciate it. >>> still to come in "the newsroom," setting up to possibly expand the air war against isis. president obama okays a reconnaissance mission over syria. cnn's athena jones is at the white house this morning. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. that's right, these reconnaissance flights will help gather important intelligence on possible isis targets in syria, but it's still unclear when or if any air strikes will ever take place. more when we come back. (vo) if you have type 2 diabetes, you may know what it's like to deal with high... and low blood sugar. januvia (sitagliptin) is a once-daily pill that, along with diet and exercise, helps lower blood sugar. januvia works when your blood sugar is high and works less when your blood sugar is low, because it works by enhancing your body's own ability to lower blood sugar. plus januvia, by itself, is not likely to cause weight gain or low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). januvia should not be used in patients with type 1 d

curtis was held hostage for nearly two years. it's not known whether any ransom was paid. >>> a magnitude 7 earthquake had jolted part of southern peru. the u.s. geological survey said it was located 70 miles southeast of lima. so far there's no reports of injuries. >>> the bbc is reporting that actor and director richard attenborough has died. he was best known for winning a best director award for directing "ghandi." >>> mempbl journalist peter theo curtis is expected to be reunited with his family very soon. >> after being held hostage for nearly two years in sere yarks the militant group released him on sunday. the 45-year-old curtis is now in israel, specifics about his release are not clear at this point. the united states rejects paying ransoms for hostages, but it is not known whether anyone else paid curtis's kidnappers. >> and meantime, britain says it's not far away from identifying the isis terrorist who executed american journalist james foley. >> uk authorities suspect the killer is likely british and that's spo ee'

for two years peter theo curtis was held al nusra front. peter theo curtis is now with the u.n. peacekeepers in the golan heights. mike viqueira joins us from washington d.c., good morning. curtises family thinks the u.s. and qatari government is with us. what role did they play in the release. >> the family was trying to keep this low profile and under the radar and they could better work towards securing his release, and it is exactly what happened yesterday. the family says they are grateful, and qatar. but they are saddened by the brutal killing of the james foley on the gruesome video released last week. for his part secretary of state john kerry said the united states reached out to two dozen countries, asking for help. it is reported that the curtis family reached out to the qatari government which was sfrooumental in secure -- instrumental in securing his release. the united states paid no ransom. they say it over and over. farce they are concerned or no, no third party or government paid ron some either. >>> the mentioned james foley, the news of curtis's believe comes

for two years, we've kept peter curtis, a u.s. citizen held hostage in syria in our thoughts and prayers. today, we join his family and loved ones in welcoming his freedom. he is now safe outside of syria and we expect him to be reunited with his family shortly. this comes the week after we saw the horrific beheading of james foley. that of course shook the world about american journalists captured in syria and iraq in recent years. they also showed photos in that beheading video of a second u.s. journalist who they pledged to kill also. we will bring you details of the statement from the family in about 15 minutes time. back to you. >> thanks very much. we'll look forward to that. >>> we're going to be flip-flopping stories a lot. back to the quake now. that quake's tremors were felt across the bay area. live report on the damage outside the wine country when we come back. ♪ ♪ great rates for great rides. geico motorcycle, see how much you could save. hard it can be...how ...to breathe with copd? it can feel like this. copd inclu

curtis was a new name. he changed it after publishing a book, after he faked being a muslim to get information. his release came on the same day a funeral was held for james foley, the journalist beheaded by the islamic state group. a rare moment of success. celebrated for one american who is finally headed hope. -- headed home. >> qatar's foreign military has released this statement saying: . >> tom ackerman has more from washington d.c. >> u.s. officials say that curtis is expected to arrive home soon, to be reunited with his family. at the same time secretary of state john kerry says the u.s. is using every tool at its disposal to get the release of four other americans held in captivity in syria by various groups. the family said - gave a little more detail to the media about the circumstances of his release when they said that they approached the qatari ambassador to the u.n., and at that point avenues of communication were open with the captors, who had at one point asked for millions in ransom. and o

curtis was captured in to 12 by al nusri, an al qaeda affiliate. he says he's thankful for all efforts that went to securing his release. >> first, i want to thank you for coming out here on this beautiful wednesday morning. there have been literally hundreds of people brave, determined and big hearted people, working all over the world for my release. they've been working for two years on this. i had no idea when i was in prison, i had no idea so much effort was being expended on my behalf. now having found out, i have just overwhelmed with emotion. now total strangers are coming up to me and saying, hey, we're just glad you're home. welcome home. glad you're back. glad you're safe. great to see you. i suddenly remember how good the american people are. and what kindness they have in their hearts. and to all those people, i say a huge thank you from my heart. from the bottom of my heart. and now look i'm so grateful that you are expressing all this interest in me. at the same time, i have to bond with my mother and my family now and i can't give y

peter curtis was held by a different group than foley. our nick paton walsh has more. >> reporter: it is interesting that this particular group chose to release peter curtis right now. they are affiliated with al qaeda. they are described as a terrorist organization. they are at times rival, to isis who are now the target of u.s. air strikes. some speculating that perhaps they assisted mr. curtis in his release because they wanted to score some good pr opponents in the eyes of the west. after a week of horror, finally some good news. an american held hostage in syria by islamist rebels for nearly two years is free. 45-year-old peter fior curtis, a freelance journalist, released sunday after being held by the al nusra front, a syrian rebel group with ties to al qaeda. his family thanking the governments of u.s. and qatar for their efforts. while the u.s. has denied any involvement and details about his release remains unclear. curtis was handed over to united nations peacekeepers in the golan heights who then released him to u.s. governmen

we begin with breaking news on freed american hostage peter theo curtis.he american journalist who was held ovenling ovenling -- hostage in syria for nearly two years. we expect him to speak for the first time since touching down on american soil. let's get the latest now from cambridge, massachusetts. good morning, miguel. >> reporter: good morning. it is a morning of joy here in cambridge as peter theo curtis has returned home. the family returned to him as theo. we saw a short time ago the family home and the police have set us up here and we believe they are speaking to the police down there, at least they were a little earlier. we expect him to come up to the microphones here, chat with us a few minutes, and give us an idea of how he feels now that he's home. remember, the family didn't know where he was for the first year of his captivity by an al qaeda affiliated group in syria. after the shocking death of james foley, very quickly things changed. qatar says they did not offer any ransom for his release, which is a big concern for many who don't wan

. >>> peter theo curtis - his name is new to us. he's an american writer freed by al qaeda-linked rebels in syria. >>> who is james foley's killer. investigators say they are close to identifying the man. >>> family and friends prepare for michael brown's funeral. "the week ahead" examines the next steps for the community. >>> thanks for being about us. a state of emergency is in effect for parts of the san francisco bay area, after a 6.0 magnitude quake hit there in the early morning hours. it's the strongest one to hit this area in more than two decades. 122 people were injured, three critically. californian officials say it is too soon to estimate the damage - they've been battling first, gas leaks and power outages. the quake hit between napper and american canyon. how bad was the quake? jacob ward joins us live. >> certainly on a scientific basis it wasn't as bass at the loma priator, that was a vasty more powerful - 15-20 times for powerful. nonetheless this was scary, 20,000 people out of 80,000 that live her are without powe

peter curtis, the times we've seen him in the past, chilling. >> theo curtis, july 18.

everybody glad theo curtis is back home.and look at a new analysis of isis and military intelligence. katherine harris in washington with some insight into what is in this report. reporter: fox news has obtained advanced copy from west point which is an independent private of the funded group and one of the nation's leading counterterrorism journal. concluding isis took a systematic and deliberate approach to gaining equipment. it reads isil did not become effective in june of 2014, it had been steadily strengthening and actively shaping the future operating environment for four years. according to the article published today, it included shattering security forces with what are described as close quarter assassinations of troops manning checkpoints and car bombs targeting key leaders. it warns isis or isil is a military power in the region because of the weaknesses and unpreparedness of the operation and warns the group runs the risk of overreach struggling if it is attacked from multiple points. martha: thank you, very int

curtis begins speaking. so hang in there. thanks so much. >>> also, this morning, new information on the american who died fighting for isis terrorists in syria. law enforcement sources tell us douglas mcarter mccain came ton their radar months ago when it was learned it was fighting with terrorist groups. >> there are some estimates hundreds, there's no doubt isis is attracting people all over the world who have been indoctrinated of this radical form of muslim religion and it's not going to stop. >> i will say it's a stark reminder and a healthy reminder of the concern that governments all over the world have about foreign fighters getting radicalized, joining a group like isil and potentially coming home to their home lands and conducting terrorist attacks. >> let's take a closer look at douglas mcarthur mccain. >> we have more disturbing information on this man this morning from u.s. officials. one official says counterterrorism investigators had been looking into his activities for some time before his death, and we have

the curtis family understand it, the qatarry government did not pay a ransom either.hich is controversial because many european captives are freed by ransom and it is one of the major sources of funding by tourists in the middle east. >> coming up here in al jazeera america another violent weekend in chicago leaving 11 people including a child recovering from injuries. we have the latest on shootings that plague the windy city. >>> days of protest that turn violent at times giving way to a solemn gathering at a local baptist church you see the father of michael brown. michael brown sr. you're watching al jazeera america. >> start with one issue education... gun control... the gap between rich and poor... job creation... climate change... tax policy... the economy... iran... healthcare... ad guests on all sides of the debate. >> this is a right we should all have... >> it's just the way it is... >> there's something seriously wrong... >> there's been acrimony... >> the conservative ideal... >> it's an urgent need... and a host willing to ask the tough questions >> how

curtis thanks for checking in again. where are you? okay we don't seem to have curtis. are you there? >> hello. i'm actually on the bridge if you can hear me right now? >> yeah, curtis we hear you just fine. what's the situation there with the roadways? >> i'm on a delay. >> okay, i don't have an air signal here so i'm kind of going off the radio but i'm going to play a little interview here with officer matthew christ of the california highway patrol. now the officer will detail exactly what's going on on highway 37, what's going on with the sonoma off ramp from highway 37 and the current situation with cal trans. >> right now [inaudible] closed due to structurally over crossing, we're checking all of the bridges and overcrosses to make sure they are safe more the public and they are working with cal trans getting them out here for a hard closure on the sonoma off ramp but right now 37 eastbound and westbound is opened. >> but you did say there was one section of interstate 80 that might be suspect right now? >> not interstate 80, no. >> everything is moving? >> everyt

curtis is free. mr. curtis in israel being handed over to u.s. officials and a good piece of news after a week of horror in which an american journalist was executed by isis. now though one american citizen free after nearly two years held by extremists in syria. nick paton walsh, cnn, london. >> quite fortunate. >> absolutely. especially considering what we've seen this week. >>> theo curtis' mother is overjoyed, of course, and expressing her thanks. >> nancy curtis says "my heart is full at the extraordinary, dedicated, incredible people, too many to name individually, who have become my friends and have tirelessly helped me over these many months. please know we will be eternally grateful." >> and nancy curtis continues "we are so relieved theo is safe and headed home after his ordeal but we're also deeply saddened by the terrible unjustified killing last week of his fellow journalist jim foley at the hands of the islamic state in iraq and syria, isis." an a memorial mass for james foley was held on sunday. >>> it was held in foley's hometown

but actually looking at the state curtis was in, he looked well fed. he did, he looked like he was in good condition. that's why there was genuine hope that perhaps he could see freedom. of course, that is now what's happened. >> for our viewers who may not know, before your domestic stint with us, you spent a lot of time abroad. we have covered these stories time and time again on the air together. i do want to talk about this group real quickly. i have read that it split at some point with al qaeda and crossed paths very violently with isis. we don't know exactly which group had peter. >> yes, we do. they're actually a pretty brutal actual group. they really are the ones that have capitalized on the popular uprising that tried to bring down the regime in syria. they were al qaeda affiliated. they became far too brutal for the core groups -- for the core group's appetite basically. so al qaeda split basically from them. isis follow add very similar theme and vein. al qaeda doesn't want to see fellow muslims murdered believe it or not. but these two gr

peter curtis had been held there since 2012. but first, here at home, the strongest earthquake northern california has seen in 25 years. it's aftermath is causing a huge headache for the residents of napa and sonoma county, just north of san francisco much the epicenter of the magnitude 6 quake, the small city of american canyon, california the quake struck seven miles deep and considered strong by the u.s. geological survey. that is, in fact, a very shallow earthquake. downtown napa took the brunt of the impact, buildings reduced to rubble, grocery stores left with plenty on the floor, as you can see there, and entire stretches of roadway split completely in two. at least 120 people were injured, six critically, including a young child. thankfully, however, no one was killed. to help with the recovery, governor jerry brown declared a state of emergency. the economic losses caused by the quake is likely to be more than $1 billion. i want to bring in kyung lah, in napa, california, close to the epicenter of that quake and cnn met

. >>> freed american journalist peter theo curtis back on u.s. soil. this is a picture of him being reunited with his mother in boston. he was released this past sunday after being held for nearly two years in syria. curtis released a statement saying i've been so touched and moved beyond all words by the people who have come up to me today. strangers on the airplane, flight attendants and most of all my family to say welcome home. i'm also deeply indebted to the u.s. officials who have worked on my case. i especially want to thank the government of qatar for intervening on my behalf. curtis' mother said she's tempered by the fact that so many are held captive. >> i don't think anybody's in mood for celebration. we're relieved but after the events of the past week and knowing that those other children of my friends are in danger, well, i have very conflicted emotions. >> nancy curtis appealed to the media to give the family privacy. >> she's a remarkable woman, listening to her the last few days. >>> a new dire warning from the centers for disease cont

that is curtis being reunited with her mother last night. family statement said curtis is indebted to official whose worked to get him released. >>> updating breaking news major investigation is happening along the schuylkill river where philadelphia police have have located two bodies, bound with duct tape. >> jim melwart from our sister station kyw news radio 1060 is on the scene with the latest information for us, jim, good morning. >> reporter: good morning what we know are two bodies were pulled from the river here earlier this morning around 4:00 a.m. when this all unfolded. one person is in the hospital and bodies appear to have been dump here by a van. here ace lopping kelly drive by kelly statue and grand stands for regatta that are often held here. this is a very active scene this parking lot members of the crime scene unit are on the banks of the river down the river. all we can see is their flashlights and their head as they walk along searching the banks for evidence. they were just a minute ago huddled around within of the bodi

also, peter theo curtis, released in the golon heights, taken by u.s. officials to tel aviv.and dozens of people were killed in bombings around iraq today, including nine people killed in a mosque. iraq's new prime minister says he is hoping to form a government in two days. >>> iceland is lowering volcano warnings. the country has been on alert ever since the volcano started rumbling earlier this month. >>> meantime a wildfire is spreading in northern california. hundreds of people have been evacuated in trinity county. the fire has already burned 650 acres. >> i'm meteorologist dave warren. the tropics starting to look a little more active. tropical storm cristobal does not look that impressive. intensifying just a bit but not organized to look like a major threat. it is seeing wind speeds of 60 miles per hour, did increase its intensity. forecast to become a hurricane. watching that storm moving north now starting to turn to the northeast. cold front approaching for the northern plains, high pressure across the northeast, that will keep the storm off the coast out into the

officials say that they have worked for dozens of countries to try to free curtis.uld no comments on whether or not they had reached out to qatar. and then there is the question of what is the motivation. the government of qatar said they were motivated by the law hao*u man terrien need. u.s. has a no-pay policy when it comes to ransom some prisoners and they said the same. >> we don't make concessions to terrorist organizations including paying ransom. we also don't support any third party paying random. did not do so in this case. we are unequivocal in our opposition to paying ransom to terrorist. i don't know if i could be more clear than that. >> reporter: and the curtis family says this they were told by a qatar officials that there was no ransom paid but they admit they were not privy to the points leading up to this negotiation. now, party theo curtis' mother nancy was interviewed by abc news, she has been able to talk to her son, and she talked about just how much she's looking forward to seeing him. >> do you know what you'll say to him? >> ale give him a b

curtis was turned over to u.s. and u.n. official in the gola n heights and curtis is in the u.s. embassy and we are waiting for information on his condition. the country of qatar helped to secure curtis' release from al-qaeda. they support hamas as we have covered is the at war with israel and hamas spokesman said hamas welcomes the release of curtis and thanked qatar for its work. curtis' release came after isis posted the execution of james foley and in the same threat threatened to kill stephen sola ft a writer for times magazine. it was unclear of the terms agreed on curtis' release. there was no ransom paid. it is a dangerous time for foreign correspondence. and now the execution and release of curtis emphasizes that danger and so far, heather 20 journalist remain miss nothing syria. >> so many are still missing. >> thank you so much. >>> we are learning about a key suspect in the murder of james feelo. the former british rapper who is under investigation for that horrific act. we'll have a live report coming up. >> in the meantime, weeks of fight nothing india where islamic

we'll show you a picture of curtis as he's being reunited with his mother in boston. there say picture right there. he's released this past sunday after being held for nearly two years in syria. curtis released this statement saying i've been so touched and moved beyond all words by the people who have come up to me today. strangers on the airplane, flight attend dants and most of all, my family to say welcome home. i'm also deeply indeaded to the officials who have worked on the case and i also want to thank the government of qatar for intervening on my behalf. his mother said she is tempered by the fact that so many more are being held captive. >> i don't think anybody in the mood for celebration, you know, we're relieved. but after the events of the past week and knowing that those other children of my friends are in danger, you know, i do have very conflicting emotions. >> nancy curtis is appealing to the media to give that family privacy while theo adjusts to being home. >> let's bring in cnn's anna coren in iraq for us. an nashgs it's been a deadly few days in i

nancy curtis just beaming at peter theo curtis. the family calls him theo.r 22 months, clean shirt, not looking so skrcraggly, a shower and certainly a shave and released a brief statement saying in part "i have been so touched and moved beyond all words by the people who have come up to me today, strangers on the airplane, the flight attendants and most of all my family. i especially thank qua ta are for intervening on my behalf." qatar insists they did not pay a ransom for his release. the foley and curtis families struggled to get their sons released. they are extraordinarily sad james foley is not making that same trip home today. two other notes, mrs. curtis says she is a very good cook and i think anything theo wants will be on the menu. he likes to do road biking and some mellow time reintegrating with the world will be spent on a bike here in lovely massachusetts. back to you, alisyn. >> i'm sort of interested in finding out what his first meal request will be, if you happen to get that information. miguel marquez, thanks. >> reporter: i'm dying to k

let me tell you what we know about peter curtis.ring the last year but described where he and peter were held for some time. as far as the cellmate, he believes they were held by a group that prescribes as an affiliate of al qaeda and is a terrorist organization of the united states but not as extreme as isis, the group behind the murder of american journalist james foley. they were held together it seems in the same room for much of the time and that was thought to be in the main city in northern syria, the largest commercial hub of what used to be the syrian economy. the complication arose in that they hatched a plan to escape. matthew and peter executed it one night. matt described to me in the interview he gave the horrifying moment when it appeared he had managed to get out using peter to push himself out of that window. he managed to get freedom. he tried to pull peter out but peter got stuck in the window and matt described the agonizing moment where he had to run. now the news that peter is free. we don't know precise circum

as for peter theo curtis, there's been no push to get him out. there's been no public campaign happening to try and get his release, so i think everyone is taken a bit aback in washington. we've been reaching out for comment and confirmation from the state department and white house. we haven't got answers. if we do, we'll pass them along. >> i wonder, a difficult question, but we're told it was handled by the u.n. representatives. any confirmation from the united nations? >> reporter: the u.t. tells our teams in new york they are looking into it, but again, they don't have any confirmation. this really did seem to take everyone by surprise. as you know, the president has been on vacation in martha's vineyard. he will return to the white house very late this evening. so far, though, again no official comment or reaction from really anyone in the united states. whether this man's family or official response, it seems a bit of a mystery so far. >> patty culhane, many thanks to you. the pictures you're seeing now are of a special mass, funeral mass

another hostage, peter theo curtis was released. he was abducted near the turkey syria border in fall of 2012. this video from june shows him reading a prepared script, thanks qatari government for helping secure his release. libby casey has more. >> john, the u.s. state department confirms that the government of qatar played a role in negotiations. the release of peter theo curtis comes less than a week after the video of the grizzly murder of james foley. he was killed by islamic state fighters. spurred on the efforts to try to get american hostages freed. now just what the incentive was for all parties involved is a question mark. because the government of qatar says it wanted to play a humanitarian role. however the u.s. policy is not to pay ransom for prisoners. and state department spokes woman jen saki says that's been maintained both publicly and privately in recent weeks. >> we don't make concessions to terrorist organizations including paying ransom. we don't support third party paying ransom, did not do so in this case, w

cases. >> the interesting thing about curtis was he claims he's not in a gang. a gang member. he's just a white supremacist, a skinhead. and he thought there was a really, really severe difference. >> i'm no part of them. i have never been a part of them nor will i ever be a part of them. those dudes, in my mind, are weak and lame. they're not white supremacists, nor will they ever be. >> and at that point, one of the officers leaned into my ear and said if you use that, he is going to get attacked. he is going to get stabbed. >> while inmates like allgier are completely aware that talking about gangs could put them in peril, it is a risk they have taken time and time again when interviewed on "lockup." >> we knew theoretically that sound bite might put him in danger, but we also knew on the other hand how important it was to curtis that that distinction be made. that's the choice we went with. >> finally, allgier spoke about the wife and two children he left behind on the outside. >> if i couldn't look at pictures of my wife, my family, my kids, it does a lot t

curtis was held for 22 months by fighters believed to be with the al qaeda affiliated group. he was released just days after isis executed james foley. >> u.s. officials tell cnn another american man was killed in syria over the weekend, but they say douglas mccain was fighting with isis militants. >> he was not the first american to join extremists in syria. the u.s. very concerned about what could happen if they ever return. >> he's an american with an all american name, douglas macarthur mccain. this man from san diego went to fight and die in syria for isis. the terror group u.s. officials now call the gravest of threats. it was, after all an isis fighter who beheaded james foley last week. mccain's family tells us they were told he was killed over the weekend. mccain was raised christian but converted to islam several years ago, police in minnesota tell cnn mccain had past run ins with the law, charged with possession of marijuana and driving on a suspended license. several months ago, he told family members he was traveling to turkey, that was the last they saw him. mcc

really physically intimidating. >> curtis allgier.e-r. >> here's this terrifying looking guy. and i was put at ease when i realized he was actually kind of soft spoken. >> i'm here for burglary, forgery and escape. and i have 1 to 15. i expireate in 2016. >> when we first met curtis allgier at utah state prison's maximum security unit, it didn't take long for tattoos to become the focus of the interview. >> tell me a little about your tattoos, what some of them mean, when you got them. >> i've been getting tattoos since i was 13 years old. my whole family tattoos. that's what i do on the streets. i'm a tattoo artist. certain ones have meaning. my wife's name across my forehead. that's how much i love my lady. and other ones are my political beliefs. >> allgier's political beliefs have to do with his near life-long affiliation with the skinheads. >> my whole family was skinheads. i was raised that way. i was born and raised into it. my dad, my uncle, all my cousins, all my family. being a skinhead is a way of life. it's preserving your

can we assume some exchange is made to secure the release of curtis. whether it was money, arms, other forms of support. if so, what kind of message that sends and frankly does it make other americans more likely to be taken hostage in the future. >> i doubt the exchange is as blatant. but i think, assuming or judge, that the gatryes with their relationship didn't say something like, hey, weapons flows coming into you. you might jeopardize those weapons flows if you don't do something here. they've got leverage. assuming they don't have to have leverage is i think is naive. i doubt it went as fafr as laying out a bunch of money on the table and say we will pay for a hostage. european governments have done as much as 2, 3, 4, there are 5 million for their release thp. thanks to phil mudd. thanks to christopher dickey. >>> many of those in attendance calling for action for change, real change, including bishop dj jakes who joins me next. >>> in one hot zone, no running water with be no sanitation, no way out. today we are live from lile liberia. jobs all

curtis said this was nonsense. all he was trying to do if they talk generally he was trying to sell voters to the right airplanes. the correspondence bear him out a great deal on this. he definitely was trying to because the letters would indicate that he was and the letters went back and forth and they were very cordial. it seems a little far-fetched. shortly thereafter, alexander graham bell got in touch with him. it also seems true but it is hard to believe that curtis had no information and insight. in the modern aircraft today. they have two to three pages of the landing gear and the steering wheel. first one to take off from the ship to develop the airplane that can land on the ship the first workable hydroplane the scientist that wilbur was that he was an absolutely brilliant innovator. after that meeting that is what caused the right of such animus. they took into the consortium of investors really rich guys started by j.p. morgan and included the belmont and vanderbilt and very other wealthy people. but th

last year, peter they owe -- theo curtis made a daring escape last year. this morning he is free. >> it is interesting that the group chose to release him. they are at time rivals to isis who are now the target of u.s. air strikes. some speculating that perhaps they assisted mr. curtis in his release because they wanted to score some good p.r. points in the eyes of the west. after a week of horror, finally some good news, an american held hostage in syria by islamist rebels for nearly two years is free. 45-year-old peter theo curtis released sunday. his family thanking the governments of u.s. and qatar for their efforts. while the u.s. has denied any involvement and details about his release remain unclear. he was handed over to united nations peacekeepers who then released him to u.s. officials. these videos show him in last few months during captivity. curtis was captured near the syrian turkey border in october 2012 and held in aleppo with american journalist matthew shriya. curtis got stuck trying to escape. >> i'm pulling him as far as i could. we wer

peter theo curtis out of danger.ntelligence officials are close to finding the jihadist who murdered james foley and the advances isis is making. >>> a day of mourning in ferguson, missouri. michael brown's family preparing to say good-bye. he will be laid to rest today. we are going to bring you the mood on the streets tonight. >>> northern california rocked by the strongest earthquake in 25 years. the latest on the damage report and that damage report is growing. that's next. >>> good morning, everyone. welcome ta "early start." i'm jn

i want to start with peter theo curtis. he was not explicitly held by isis. does his experience underscore how potentially violent the situation on the ground in syria is this. >> it certainly does. as you mentioned, he was kidnapped two years ago and held by a group that is very similar to isis. actually, a group that -- shares a similar ideology but a rival of isis. it was a group that initially was considered the most extreme group in syria until isis came along with the brutality, the savagery and ellipsed even that group which was the official al qaeda affiliate. but since then, things have only gotten worse. right now, when you go through syria, between the turkish border and aleppo, for example, there are dozen of isis check points. they stop cars, they're looking to kidnap people. they're looking to round up any foreigner they can find. it is a situation of absolute lawlessness where these militants are the law, and i can't think of a more dangerous place in the world right now. >> why do you think they release them? what is in their interest? >> i th

tonight -- >> my name is peter theo curtis, i'm a journalist in the city of boston, massachusetts, usa taken by terrorists. his mother speaks for the first time about what it really takes to get a prisoner out alive. with lives on the line it's big business. possible blood money. we're going inside the world of the hostage negotiator. >>> takeout takedown. think you're getting a great deal delivered? >> you give them your credit card information and nothing comes because it's a thief. >> potential predators have all kinds of ways to get their hands on your money. watch when authorities say these two were caught red-handed on camera. >>> who is miley cyrus' mystery man? we knew she could shock us, we just didn't know she could do it like this. >>> thirs tfirst the "nightline" >> number one in just 6 >>> good evening. thanks for joining us. tonight we're taking you inside the dark arts of hostage negotiations. with someone who knows them all too well. kidnapping is a booming criminal enterprise and you're about to meet a mom who lived every parent's worst nightmare when her journalist so

in "60 minutes," he told how he tried to pull curtis. but curtis panicked. >> and i'm pulling him and he stopped. he was talking. the plan was not to talk. he had me by the wrists, i had him by the wrists. he wasn't fitting. i said i can't stay here. there are windows up there that are open. i'm like i got to go. he was like, come back, and i said i can't come back. and he was like, all right, go. i couldn't leave until he said it. >> "60 minutes" agreed not to report those details in order to help to protect curtis from retribution in prison, but last night schrier gave cbs news consent and said that he wants people to know they tried to escape together and now this release gives him hope for other hostages. >> all right, margaret. thank you. >>> american and british intelligence agents are busy tracking down james foley's killer this morning. bob orr is in washington where the list of possible suspects is narrowing. bob, what's the latest? good morning. >> good morning. british intelligence has reportedly identified the terrorists who

why was curtis released? >> well, i think that us in rah is -- i wouldn't use the word moderate, but it is tameable. it's not completely radical group. it dogs want connections with the outside world. they have no inattention to set up a cal live fate or randomly hurt westerners. the family negotiate with this group and make them see reason. always the possible that somebody paid money, unbeknownst to the u.s. government or the famil family. >> the u.s. does not negotiate with terrorists when money is involved, won't pay ransom, says it was not directly involved with these negotiations. how would the u.s. look at negotiations like this through it appears the government of qatar where money might have been involved, where the end result, of course is a happy one, but the method may not have been one that the u.s. is comfortable with? how would the u.s. look at that? >> well, they may be monitoring what was going on in the negotiations. i think the main thing for the u.s. is to be able to deny if it paid a rans