Sherri Papini, the woman who faked her own kidnapping in 2016, is back in court facing her estranged husband, Keith Papini. The 41-year-old mother of two sobbed on the stand on October 23, 2023, during the divorce proceedings as she argued that she should receive her fair share of the money she and her ex-husband made together while married.
While trying to fight for a share of the insurance payout he received following the Fawn Fire in October 2021, she visibly wiped a tear from her eye and displayed a downcast mood.
Sherri Papini claims that Keith Papini controlled all of their finances while they were married and that she was left with nothing. He claims, however, that all of the funds have been used on living expenses and a $500-a-month allowance for his mom when he and their two children were living with her.
Keith Papini also accused Sherri Papini of racking up credit card debt that she had no means of paying back. A statement showed that she spent nearly $600 on Airbnb in Montague, California, made a purchase over $250 at a Walmart, spent $3,200 at Best Buy, and paid two bills amounting to more than $350 at a Kohl’s. Other charges were from Amazon, which included a Prime membership.
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When asked about finances on the stand, Sherri Papini pleaded the Fifth Amendment. The October 23 hearing comes weeks after she failed to show up to another hearing. At the time, her attorney said he was having trouble getting in touch with her.
Keith Papini went on to allege that Sherri Papini's legal team refused to speak with him in the process of him seeking full custody of their children. As of now, he has temporary custody of the kids.
Sherri Papini faked her kidnapping in 2016. According to prosecutors, she began planning her kidnapping around December 2015 in order to get back with her ex, James Reyes, whom she told to buy prepaid phones.
On November 2, 2016, she texted him asking to be picked up from a trail where she said she was out for a jog. She never picked up her children from day care, and her husband was concerned to not find her home when he arrived.
He filed a missing person's report, and the community spent a lot of time and resources searching for the mom. Twenty-two days later, on Thanksgiving Day, she was found with a chain around her and bruises on her body.
Her family and community welcomed her back home with open arms, but over time as the investigation continued, her story unraveled and it was found out to all be a hoax. DNA from her ex-boyfriend was found on a piece of her clothing, which led detectives to him. He told authorities she had simply asked him for a place to stay.
Sherri Papini was arrested in March 2022 and sentenced to 18 months in prison. She was released late in October 2023.
