Multi-State Search Ends Happily for ‘Mob Wives’ Star Natalie DiDonato
Natalie DiDonato, a cast member of the VH1 reality show “Mob Wives,” has been found safe after being reported missing in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that a missing person report had been filed for DiDonato earlier Wednesday, but hours later, she called her mother to inform her that she was safe and uninjured.
According to TMZ, DiDonato’s purse, along with all her identification, was stolen while she was in Las Vegas. Her family had filed a missing persons report with the Las Vegas Police Department after she failed to board her flight home to Florida.
DiDonato’s sister, Janae, told NBC News that the family had initially believed she was in Philadelphia, but later discovered she was in Las Vegas. “We found out that she was in Philadelphia. She was supposed to go from Philadelphia to Florida, back home. She didn’t get on that flight,” Janae said.
Fellow “Mob Wives” cast member Drita D’Avanzo expressed her relief on Instagram, saying, “I pray Natalie is safe! I can’t imagine what her family is going through.” On Wednesday, D’Avanzo posted a message saying she had spoken with DiDonato’s mother and confirmed that DiDonato was safe.
DiDonato appeared in Season 5 of “Mob Wives,” which profiled the lives of women whose family members or husbands were jailed for mob-related crimes. The reality show aired on VH1 from 2011 to 2016.
It is unclear where DiDonato was found or where she had been staying, but her family is now trying to figure out how to get her home without identification and to determine what exactly happened.
Concern for Missing ‘Mob Wives’ Star Natalie DiDonato Mounts on Staten Island
On Staten Island, where “Mob Wives” was filmed, there was concern for DiDonato’s safety, especially after she missed two flights. “We are hearing she missed two flights,” said Alexandra Luciano of Staten Island. “We hear her family is worried.”
DiDonato’s disappearance sparked a multi-state search effort, and a missing persons flyer on the Missing People in America website stated that she had not been heard from in days.
Background on Natalie DiDonato and Her Connection to ‘Mob Wives’
Natalie DiDonato is a cousin of slain mobster Frank “Frankie Flowers” D’Alfonso and appeared in Season 5 of “Mob Wives.” The reality show followed the lives of women whose family members or husbands had been jailed for mob-related crimes.
DiDonato’s appearance on “Mob Wives” provided a glimpse into the lives of those connected to organized crime and highlighted the challenges and struggles they face.