On November 2, 2016, Keith Papini from Redding, California, contacted emergency services, fearing the worst after returning home to find his two children alone and his wife, Sherri Papini, missing. After tracking her phone using the Find My app, Keith discovered it abandoned on the roadside, with headphones tangled in her hair. The situation escalated into a national media uproar as local authorities enlisted the FBI, leading to Sherri’s eventual discovery 22 days later. She was found emaciated and battered, claiming she had been kidnapped by two masked Hispanic women. However, a lengthy investigation brought new evidence, suggesting that Sherri had fabricated the abduction to escape with an ex-boyfriend, James Reyes.
The story captivated the public, likening Sherri to a real-life version of Gone Girl. Ultimately, she was convicted of mail fraud and lying to federal authorities, resulting in an 18-month prison sentence. Following her release, Sherri largely retreated from the public eye, avoiding comments even as her story inspired a Lifetime movie (Hoax: The Kidnapping of Sherri Papini) and a Hulu documentary titled Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini. Recently, Sherri has begun speaking out again, revealing her side of the story in the new docuseries, Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie, set to air on May 26 and 27 on ID and Max.
Sherri Papini claims she was abducted by her ex-boyfriend James Reyes
Sherri describes her marriage to Keith as toxic, alleging emotional abuse and financial control. In response to this environment, she claims to have started an emotional affair with James Reyes, communicating frequently via burner phones but never physically meeting. On the day she vanished, Sherri alleges that Reyes kidnapped her when she went for a run.
“I remember waking up briefly in the back of the vehicle, unable to keep my eyes open. The next time I was conscious, I was being led out into a dark place,” she recounted. Police interviewed Reyes, who asserted that Sherri came willingly and planned her injuries while living at his house. However, Sherri insists she was held against her will.
The ID docuseries is the first time FBI agents involved have been able to talk freely about the case
Sherri’s ex-husband Keith participated in Hulu’s 2024 docuseries, Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini, alongside family members and investigators. Denise Farmer, the FBI’s lead investigator, revealed that this ID docuseries allowed agents to speak freely, as they were previously restricted by PR officials. She highlighted a shift allowing them to discuss their investigative strategies and initial suspicions about Sherri’s honesty.
Sherri says she lied to investigators because of her post-nuptial agreement
After being discovered on Thanksgiving, Sherri told authorities she had been kidnapped by two masked women. She maintained this narrative, even publishing a book about her alleged captivity. Despite this, investigators revealed her lies contributed to her divorce from Keith. Sherri admits that her fear of repercussions from her affair with Reyes influenced her initial dishonesty, as her post-nuptial agreement would have cost her significantly if discovered.
There is almost no way to prove whether Sherri is telling the truth — and about what
The investigation was complicated by Sherri’s inconsistent accounts of her ordeal. Police found no evidence to support her claims about her kidnappers. Instead, interviews revealed her presence in Reyes’s home during parts of her disappearance. Sherri acknowledges some communication with Reyes yet insists she did not agree to go with him. Her psychologist comments on her self-defeating personality traits, suggesting they contributed to her behavior. In the docuseries, Sherri attempts to recreate her abduction but finds the process doesn’t help jog her memory.
