Thursday, September 15, 2011

Michaele Salahi kidnapped

Michaele Salahi kidnapped, White House party crasher and "Real Housewives of DC" star Michaele Salahi wasn't kidnapped -- she ran off with the lead guitarist from Journey, according to a new report.

Salahi is with Neal Schon in Memphis, Tenn., where the band is set to play with Foreigner, TMZ.com reported.

Earlier in the day, Michaele's husband Tareq said he feared his wife has been kidnapped. But authorities in Virginia said they had heard from her and she said she was fine, FOX News reported.

The sheriff's office in Warren County, Va., held a press conference on the situation Wednesday and had no new updates on her whereabouts but said they were trying to get in touch with her again.

Sheriff's Office Deputy Mike Glavis said in a press release he had spoken with Michaele by telephone Tuesday and she sounded "calm" and told him she had left willingly with a friend. She also said he did not want her husband to know where she was, according to the press release.

In an interview with TMZ, Salahi said he did not think Virginia police are taking the situation seriously. He last saw his wife at their home around 11 a.m. local time on Tuesday when he was headed for the couple's winery and she was on her way to a hair appointment.

He said she has been missing ever since, according to FOX News and TMZ.

Salahi said he later got a phone call from his wife using an Oregon cell phone number and she said she was going to her mother's home nearby, TMZ reported.

The phone called sparked his suspicion and Salahi said he called his mother-in-law, who said she had not spoken to Michaele. Salahi then called the Warren Country sheriff's office to say that he believed his wife might have been abducted.

According to TMZ, Salahi claims Virginia authorities told him that Michaele had contacted them to say she was fine and was simply working out some "family issues."

He later issued a statement saying, "It is our belief as of last night, that Michaele Salahi may have been kidnapped or abducted and being held under duress and forced to tell persons, including authorities she is okay."

The Salahis grabbed headlines around the world in 2009 when they crashed a state dinner at the White House.

The pair did one season of "The Real Housewives of DC" which capitalized on their state dinner scandal and apparent love of the spotlight.

Recently the Salahis have been attempting to hype a gala reopening at his family's Oasis Winery, The Washington Post reported Wednesday. The winery is embroiled in a dispute over ownership and its assets are scheduled to be sold at a bankruptcy auction this weekend, the Post said.

Read more: foxnews