Sherri Papini was jailed for admitting that her supposed 2016 kidnapping was fabricated. However, following her release, she is now presenting a different argument as to why she believes she should be considered innocent of these accusations.
Sherri Papini captured global attention in 2016 when she disappeared for 22 days, allegedly abducted during a jog near her home north of Redding, California. Her husband, Keith, reported her missing in January 2022 after she failed to return from a jog in her neighborhood.
The California mother first made headlines in 2016 when she vanished while jogging near her Redding home, and her story has continued to evolve. A significant turn of events occurred when she was unexpectedly found on a road 22 days after her reported kidnapping. Her recovery on Thanksgiving Day made the moment even more significant for her family and the countless individuals around the world who were concerned about her safety and captivated by her tale.
Sherri resurfaces 22 days later and claims she was beaten and branded by captors. Sherri is ultimately arrested in 2022 for orchestrating her abduction. She pleads guilty to a federal judge later that year and is sentenced to 18 months in jail for committing mail fraud and lying to a federal officer about being kidnapped.
Sherri Papini admits to lying about being kidnapped in 2016, but now claims she did not lie about being held captive in the new docuseries Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie. A young California mother and wife went missing in 2016 and reappeared three weeks later, falsely telling authorities she had been abducted and tortured, but is now also speaking publicly for the first time since her prison release in Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie.
After Sherri pleaded guilty to making false statements and one count of mail fraud in connection with lying about being kidnapped in 2016, she recently came forward to switch her story once again, denying she was ever held captive. However, Sherri, just six weeks after her arrest, signs a plea deal admitting she orchestrated the hoax. She pleads guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of making false statements. In September 2022, she is sentenced to 18 months in prison following three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $300,000 (including restitution to cover the costs of the police investigation)
Earlier this year, Investigation Discovery’s Caught in the Lie, featuring Sherri Papini, illustrates claims by Papini that James Reyes is allegedly responsible for her kidnapping. Reyes disputes the allegations when interviewed by government officials and is never officially charged in connection to her kidnapping.
Joining Nancy Grace today:
Additional Guests
Dr. Stephen M. Diggs – Sherri Papini’s therapist, California licensed psychologist, Owner / Director of NYSA Therapy, Author of “Secondhand Girl: From Foster Care to Borderline Personality to Peace”, website: nysatherapy.com
Sheriff Michael Johnson – Sheriff of Shasta County [his department investigated the “original” Sherri Papini case]
Traci Brown – Body Language Expert, Author: “How to Detect Lies, Fraud and Identity Theft;” X @Tracibrown37
Kelli Saam – Anchor at Action News Now, the CBS and NBC affiliate in Redding, CA, website: actionnewsnow.com, X: @KelliSaam, Instagram and Facebook: @KelliSaamNews
“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.
[Feature Photo: Sherri Papini/Facebook]
