The U.S. is investigating whether the kidnapping and threatened beheading of U.S. Marine Wassef Ali Hassoun may have been a hoax. He is believed to be alive and free in his native Lebanon.

Update: CNN reports Hassoun is at the U.S. embassy in Lebanon. (via Back Country Conservative.)

The Naval Criminal Investigation Service was put in charge of the investigation shortly after Hassoun was missing from his unit on June 20, the sources told CNN. Scarber said the NCIS is one step up from the military police and typically investigates missing persons cases. It was brought into the investigation as when it was thought that it was possible Hassoun fell victim to foul play, but no criminal investigation is under way, she said.

Hassoun reportedly called his family in Utah yesterday with a request to be picked up at an undisclosed location in Lebanon. This is one story that's going to get a lot stranger before it's over.