In November 2016, California mother Sherri Papini vanished while jogging, sparking a massive search effort and national media frenzy. When she was found 22 days later on Thanksgiving Day, chained and emaciated on the side of a freeway, she claimed 'two Hispanic women' had kidnapped her for sex trafficking. But in 2022, the FBI arrested Sherri for faking her own kidnapping - revealing she'd actually been hiding at her ex-boyfriend's apartment, asking him to hurt her to make the injuries look real. Sherri was released from prison in 2023, after serving 10 months of her 18-month sentence. And in 2025, she (of course) started doing the media rounds, because she had a LOT to say. (Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of domestic violence and abuse.)

We give you Just The Gist, but if you want more, there's this:

ABC News report - Sherri Papini claims boyfriend abducted her in 2016 hoax kidnapping (2025)

Sherri Papini kidnapping hoax Wikipedia page - Complete timeline and case details

Perfect Wife documentary - Keith Papini's side of the story (2024)

Sherri Papini: Caught In The Lie documentary - Sherri's version of events (2025)

Sherri Papini on the Viall Files - Sherri tells her story (2025)

People Magazine coverage - Where is Keith Papini now (2024)

Daily Mail report - Sherri Papini's husband demands sole custody (2022)

7News analysis - Sherri Papini's theatrics are what got her caught (2022)

True Crime Daily podcast episode - Sherri Papini busted: California mom's kidnapping fake (2022)

If you need support, please contact: 

Lifeline: https://www.lifeline.org.au/ 

1800 RESPECT (domestic violence support): https://1800respect.org.au/

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Just The Gist is a Just The Network production. Executive Produced and hosted by Rosie Waterland. Produced and edited by James Joseph. Additional production support by Kate Leaver and Hayley Staveley, along with Acast legends Guy Scott Wilson and Simon McDermott. Production Assistant: Pocket

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