Latina MasterChef Judge Zahie Téllez Kidnapped During Live Interview on Highway in Mexico 

Latina MasterChef Judge Zahie Téllez Kidnapped During Live Interview on Highway in Mexico 
Credit: Instagram

Zahie Téllez, a judge on MasterChef Celebrity, and her husband Alberto Escobar were kidnapped on the México-Cuernavaca highway during what began as a routine stop. The couple was later rescued through a coordinated effort by law enforcement, marking another alarming incident of roadside crime involving public figures in Mexico. 

The abduction occurred as Téllez, 50, paused near the border of Mexico City and Huitzilac, Morelos, to participate in a live Zoom interview. While she spoke with media outlets, armed assailants intercepted her vehicle and took the couple captive. Miguel Ángel Urrutia, Morelos’ Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, provided insight into the operation, saying, “We received a report from a media outlet conducting an interview with a known figure on social media. At that moment, she was reported kidnapped on the highway.” 

Authorities launched an immediate response, mobilizing drones and surveillance systems to locate the perpetrators. The operation led officers to a house in Huitzilac, where the victims were found unharmed. A suspect was apprehended while driving the couple’s vehicle. A government statement confirmed, “Both victims are in stable condition, with no injuries reported.” This incident follows a troubling pattern of violence targeting celebrities on Mexico’s highways.  

Who Is Zahie Téllez?

Téllez, originally from Mazatlán, Sinaloa, is of Lebanese-Mexican heritage and has earned acclaim in the culinary world. She initially studied Economics and Political Science before pursuing her passion for gastronomy. Her career includes judging MasterChef Celebrity in 2023 and 2024 alongside chef Adrián Herrera and restaurateur Alfonso Cadena Rubio. She has also been a fixture on several cooking shows, including Los Favoritos de Zahie and Sabor a Milpa. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she released her book Mi historia a través de los sabores, blending recipes with personal anecdotes. 

Téllez and Escobar have been married for 20 years and have an adopted child. Though they are okay, this puts a magnifying glass on a rising security issue in Mexico. Let’s hope this doesn’t continue to happen.  

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