d.e.a. agents developed threads of information including that relatives and associates were looking for ways to get him out of prison. the official says u.s. officials had no specific information on guzman's escape on saturday but they passed along what they had to mexican authorities. now, a mexican official tells cnn about 50 people have been questioned and three top prison officials fired in the investigation into guzman's escape. the official says that guzman may head back to the mountain hide aways to sinaloa state. >> in these communities he is seen as a hero. he's almost venerated. he's larger than life. >> reporter: a u.s. official tells cnn that guzman has a support network in sinaloa with advanced teams of lookouts spice and scouts who help him evade capture. and an advantage? his robin hood reputation.