Husband of reality TV star says wife abducted

Michaele Salahi AP FILE PHOTO

Front Royal, Virginia — The husband of “Real Housewives of D.C.” cast member Michaele Salahi reported to police that he believed his wife had been abducted, but investigators said Wednesday she assured them she was with a friend and “where she wanted to be.”

Sheriff Daniel T. McEathron said his office was working with the FBI to contact Michaele Salahi to confirm her well-being.

“We’re aware of the situation and we’re going to work with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office,” said Dee Rybiski, a spokeswoman for the agency.

The sheriff’s office in Virginia’s horse country said Tareq Salahi called Tuesday afternoon to report his wife missing. Gossip website TMZ reported that Tareq said he felt the sheriff’s office wasn’t taking his concerns seriously.

“This is not a publicity stunt … ” Tareq Salahi told WRC-TV in Washington. “I think she’s being forced to say ‘I’m OK.’ … “I think she’s missing.”

An Associated Press call to a number for Tareq prompted a recorded message that the line could not accept additional calls.

In a statement, McEathron said Tareq Salahi was concerned because his wife was to return to northern Virginia on Wednesday and she had called the previous day from a phone with an Oregon area code.

Deputy Mike Glavis spoke with Michaele Salahi and 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,” the sheriff said in the statement. “Mrs. Salahi advised that she did not want Mr. Salahi to know where she was.”

The Salahis burst onto the scene in 2009 when they crashed a White House state dinner.