Home / Crime and Justice / Hoax Mom's Decade of Deceit Unraveled
Hoax Mom's Decade of Deceit Unraveled
3 Nov
Summary
- Sherri Papini faked her 2016 kidnapping to cover an affair.
- She received $30,000 in victim assistance funds.
- Her ex-husband filed for divorce after her arrest.
In November 2016, Sherri Papini vanished while on a jog, igniting a nationwide search that lasted 22 days. She reappeared 150 miles away, claiming to have been abducted by two women at gunpoint. Her story, initially believed, unraveled over six years.
In 2022, Sherri was arrested for making false statements to law enforcement. Investigators discovered her disappearance was a hoax to hide an affair with an ex-boyfriend. She had also collected over $30,000 in victim assistance funds.
Following her arrest, Sherri's husband, Keith Papini, filed for divorce and sought sole custody of their two children. Sherri was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and released in October 2023.
Keith Papini has since been granted full custody, with Sherri having monthly supervised visits. The family continues to navigate the trauma of the events.
