She told police two masked women had kept her chained in a closet and branded her with a hot tool. It took four years, and a DNA match from her own clothing, to learn none of it was true.
The Disappearance
Sherri Papini, 39, of Redding, California, went missing in November 2016 after going for a run. Three weeks later, she was found injured and disoriented on a highway roughly 140 miles from home. She told investigators she had been abducted and held captive by two masked, Spanish-speaking women who chained her in a closet, held her at gunpoint, and branded her with a heated tool. The claims triggered an extensive search for the alleged captors and led to Papini receiving more than $30,000 in state victim compensation funds.
The DNA Breakthrough
In 2020, investigators used genetic genealogy to trace unidentified male DNA found on Papini's clothing to a relative of her former boyfriend. Confronted with the DNA match, the ex-boyfriend admitted the abduction had been staged: Papini had asked him to help her "run away" from what she described as a difficult relationship, stayed at his home in Southern California, and asked him to injure her and brand her with a wood-burning tool as part of the fabricated story. Investigators corroborated his account through phone, rental car, and toll records, and an interview with a relative who had seen Papini at his home.
Confrontation and Charges
When confronted with the new evidence, Papini initially maintained her original story. She was formally charged in March 2022 and pleaded guilty the following month to one count of lying to a federal officer and one count of mail fraud.
Sentencing
Federal prosecutors argued the hoax wasted significant investigative resources and caused innocent people to be scrutinized as potential suspects. Papini was ordered to pay $300,000, partly to cover investigation costs, and received an 18-month sentence along with three years of supervised release. In court, she apologized, describing years of treatment for anxiety, depression, and PTSD, and said she was committed to continuing that healing process.
FAQ
Why did Sherri Papini fake her own kidnapping?
She told her ex-boyfriend she wanted to escape a difficult relationship; the exact underlying motivations she's given publicly have varied.
How was the hoax discovered?
Genetic genealogy testing on DNA found on her clothing led investigators to her ex-boyfriend, who admitted his involvement.
What sentence did Papini receive?
18 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $300,000 restitution order.