On November 2, 2016, a mom from California disappeared for three weeks. She was found injured, and with a “brand” on her shoulder. She told the police that she was kidnapped by two Hispanic women who kept her tied up in a closet and abused her.

Apparently, it was all a ploy so that she could run away with an ex-boyfriend. 

When 40-year-old Sherri Papini “disappeared” while going on a run near her residence in 2016, everyone did their part in searching for her. The incident had already sparked national interest by the time someone found her around 150 miles away from her Redding, California home.

After she was “found,” she continued to make up lies without thinking about the chaos that she caused. The police also continued to search for the “perpetrators” for years. Papini was also said to have received victim compensation funds of more than $30,000.

Papini perpetrated a well-thought-out scheme. The crime was discovered in 2020 when investigators found her DNA on her ex-boyfriend’s clothing. He then admitted that everything was a lie.

Her husband, Keith Papini, filed for a divorce after her guilty plea. He shared that they were experiencing difficulty in dealing with what happened and that he believes that she is not in “a position to provide good parenting.”

Papini was given an 18-month sentence, 39 months of supervised release, and $309,902 in restitution for losses incurred during the whole fiasco. According to Senior US District Judge Willian B. Shubb, the government prosecutor recommended eight months and three years of supervised release, but he chose a longer sentence to serve as a lesson for others.

Papini cried in the court. She apologized to those who have been affected by her actions and said that she accepts all charges.

Clearly, someone has been reading crime novels and can probably share a few tips on how to get away with kidnapping (yourself)…for a few months.