In a headline only the crazy duo responsible for the infamous “White House party crashing” could generate, former Real Housewives of DC star Michaele Salahi was reported kidnapped last night by her husband, Tareq Salahi, but it was later revealed she had run off with Neal Schon, the lead guitarist for the band Journey!
TMZ broke the kidnapping story earlier today when professional shyster Tareq told the site his wife had disappeared yesterday after telling him she was going to a hair appointment. Tareq then says he received a call from Michaele late last night on a cell phone with an Oregon area code, during which she told him she was at her mother’s.
Tareq got suspicious and called Michaele’s mother’s house and she informed him that she had heard nothing from Michaele and was unaware of any plan to visit her. This caused Tareq to call the Warren County Sheriff’s Department to report the incident. Here’s a photo of the teary-eyed Tareq from an interview with NBC (clip embedded below):
The WCSD investigated the matter, and even spoke with Michaele, before issuing this statement:
“The Warren County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Mr. Tareq Salahi on Tuesday evening September 13, 2011 at 11:55 p.m. Mr. Salahi advised us that he last heard from his wife about 6 hours ago. He was concerned because she had contacted him from an Oregon area code and she was supposed to be back in Northern Virginia today.
“Deputy Mike Glavis subsequently spoke with Mrs. Salahi by telephone a few moments later. Deputy Glavis was able to identify Mrs. Salahi by having previous conversations with her in the past. She seemed calm, was engaged in conversation, and assured the deputy that she had left the residence with a good friend and was where she wanted to be. Mrs. Salahi advised that she did not want Mr. Salahi to know where she was.
“Mrs. Salahi advised Deputy Glavis that she was very sorry that the Sheriff’s Office had to be involved, but she did not want to be home right now.
“Deputy Glavis made contact with Mr. Salahi and advised him that he had spoken with Mrs. Salahi and told him that she was fine.
“The Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI are currently working together in an attempt to make additional contact with Mrs. Salahi to assure her well being. We have been in contact with her friends and family.”
The statement mentions that Michael “had left the residence with a good friend,” and as it turns out, that “good friend” is none other than Neal Schon, guitarist for Journey!!! According to TMZ Michaele Salahi has “been dating the rock icon, went to his show in Nashville last night and is currently with Schon in Memphis, where Journey is set to perform with Foreigner.” They also reveal that the two have been close for at least a year, as evidenced by this video clip from the Salahi’s Oasis Winery:
As usual, the obvious facts did little to persuade Tareq Salahi from relinquishing a little bit of media attention! He packed up a bottle of the Oasis Winery’s finest alligator tears and gave a heartlessfelt interview with NBC:
View more videos at: http://nbcwashington.com.
In the interview Tareq says he is fearful for his wife’s safety because the couple has received numerous death threats and had experiences with stalkers in the past. He says that the Oregon cell number was unusual and that Michaele’s message was “cryptic.” He then explains that they had gone over this type of situation in the past and had discussed what they would do.
He wraps up the interview by swearing to God that this isn’t a publicity stunt and “I think she’s being forced to say ‘I’m OK.'”
Meanwhile, Scoop Marketing (Journey’s rep) confirms with TMZ that “Nobody kidnapped her and they are in Memphis together.”
Is anyone else thinking this needs to be a Coen Brothers movie?
All I can tell poor, poor Tareq is… Doooon’t stop belieeeevin! (Hold onto that fee-ee-eelinnn!)
Top photo: Tareq and Michaele Salahi at the Rockerfeller Center ice skating rink in New York City on October 18, 2010. (Anthony Dixon/WENN.com)
