'Vanderpump Rules' Star Scheana Shay Issues Statement About Missing Cousin: 'We Are Sad, Scared & Desperate'
By Whitney Vasquez on February 28, 2020 at 1:19 PM EST
"Vanderpump Rules" star Scheana Shay is turning to fans for help after her cousin Phillip Tate went missing from a retirement community on Tuesday. The reality starlet took to her Instagram, pleading with anyone who has information on his whereabouts to reach out to her or her mother, Erika van Olphen, who is Tate's first cousin. The 67-year-old was last seen with his wife visiting his mother-in-law at Westmont Village Facility in Riverside, CA three days ago. Security footage shows him leaving the parking lot by himself on foot. Adding even more urgency to the situation, Scheana Shay's team tells The Blast that Tate has dementia and diabetes.
The "Pump Rules" star's family and authorities are "concerned" about Tate not having his medication. A Silver Alert has been issued by the California Highway Patrol and police are asking anyone with information to give them a call. Scheana Shay's family has released a statement to The Blast regarding his disappearance stating they are "keeping open minds" during the search. “We are sad, scared and desperate to find Phil as he has been suffering from dementia in the last year and is unfamiliar with the area where he was reported missing," the statement reads.
"Phil currently resides on a ranch and loves the outdoors more than anything so he is most likely to be found in open land rather than the city, but anything is possible at this point and we are keeping open minds during our search," it continues. "We love our Phil and just want him back home with us. If you think you have any leads, big or small, please contact 911 as the Riverside Sheriff’s Department and the Police Department are working around the clock on this investigation.”
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Scheana Shay took to her Instagram Story on Friday telling fans she and her mother, who are currently in London, feel "helpless" over their family member's disappearance. “My mom and I are here in London right now feeling helpless,” she said. “I posted yesterday that her cousin’s been missing and he still is. We haven’t found anything. There were a couple updates the day before yesterday — a few sightings around Mission Grove and Bathurst [Road] and in, like, a Sprouts shopping center parking lot, but we still haven’t found him, so anyone in the Riverside area, please keep your eyes out.”
