Where is Sherri Papini now? Hulu's 'Perfect Wife' tracks her mysterious disappearance that stunned the world
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini', an American documentary series directed by Michael Beach Nichols, officially premiered on Hulu on Thursday, June 20, 2024.
The docuseries delves into the sensational and bewildering case of Sherri Papini, a mother from Redding, California, whose kidnapping hoax captured national attention.
The official synopsis of Hulu's docuseries reads, "Keith and Sherri Papini's seemingly idyllic life is shattered when Sherri vanishes from their rural California neighborhood, triggering a frenzied search that becomes news around the world. But once Sherri is found, a new nightmare begins."
The case continues to draw significant public interest due to the unusual nature of her hoax. Let's discuss the case and Sherri's current whereabouts.
Who is Sherri Papini?
Sherri Papini is an American woman who went missing on November 2, 2016, allegedly while jogging about a mile away from her home in Redding, California.
She was born as Sherri Louise Graeff on June 11, 1982. She grew up in Shasta County and attended Central Valley High School.
She later met and married Keith Papini in October 2009, and together they started a family, raising two children.
Her life took a dramatic turn in November 2016 with her reported disappearance, which later unfolded into a notorious kidnapping hoax that captured national attention, as reported by Los Angeles Times.
Due to the revelation of kidnapping hoax and the subsequent legal repercussions, her husband, Keith, decided to take significant steps to protect his family. He filed for divorce from Sherri, citing irreconcilable differences stemming from her actions. Keith also filed for sole custody of their children.
What happened to Sherri Papini?
Sherri Papini vanished on November 2, 2016, reportedly while jogging near her home in Redding, California. At that time, she was 34 years old and her sudden disappearance triggered an extensive search and widespread media coverage.
After three weeks of intense investigation and public concern, Sherri reappeared on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2016. She told authorities that she had been kidnapped by two Hispanic women while jogging on the trail that morning.
Sherri said she had been freed by her captors early that morning at around 4:30 a.m. She was discovered on the side of County Road 17 near Interstate 5 in Yolo County, still wearing restraints. This location was about 150 miles south of where she had initially gone missing.
She was discovered with visible bruises and had been subjected to branding. The news of Sherri being found safe circulated approximately two hours after a gathering at Diestelhorst Landing in Redding.
However, her limited description of her kidnappers and her inability or reluctance to answer all of investigators' questions fueled skepticism. Adding to the intrigue of the case, investigators disclosed that the male DNA discovered on Sherri's clothing did not correspond to any individuals in the criminal database or to her husband.
This discovery eventually led them to her ex-boyfriend, James Reyes, a key figure in the case. She was reportedly staying with while she pretended to be missing.
Hence, after conducting an extensive investigation, detectives concluded that Sherri's kidnapping was a hoax.
Why did Sherri Papini fake her own kidnapping?
According to NBC News, Sherri's ex-boyfriend claimed that she had requested him to hit her, but he refused. Instead, he agreed to hold a hockey stick for her to run into and threw hockey pucks at her.
He also stated that he had branded her at her request. She was reportedly staying with her ex-boyfriend in his Costa Mesa, California.
According to People Magazine, her ex-boyfriend left her near Interstate 5, allowing her to return home. He was never charged in connection with the case.
After her return, Sherri remained married and continued living with her husband and their children until her arrest, as Keith learned the truth about her disappearance. After more than five years, authorities eventually arrested her.
Authorities accused her of fabricating the kidnapping story in order to spend time with her ex-boyfriend.
She had received over $30,000 from the California Victim Compensation Board between 2017 and 2021, which suggests that she was financially compensated for her claimed ordeal. She misused funds intended to support genuine victims of crime.
The United States Social Security Administration's expenses totaled more than $127,000.
Where is Sherri Papini?
Sherri faced a federal indictment of 35 counts. On March 3, 2022, Sherri was arrested by the FBI, accused of lying to federal agents and faking her kidnapping.
In April 2022, she pleaded guilty to two charges. The charges were mail fraud and lying to a law enforcement officer, as reported by People. The court ordered her to pay $300,000 in restitution.
In September 2022, she was sentenced to 18 months in prison. However, she ended up serving less than a year in prison. After serving her prison sentence, Sherri was released in August 2023 and was placed in a halfway house, as reported by ABC News.
In October 2023, she was released from a halfway house, as reported by People. She will be under supervised release for a period of three years following her release. During this time, she will be required to adhere to specific conditions and guidelines set forth by the court and probation department.
According to Redding Record Searchlight, she is out of prison and residing in the North State. She maintains limited visitation with her children, which is carefully structured and monitored.
How to stream 'Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini'?
'Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini' will be available for streaming exclusively on Hulu from Thursday, June 20, 2024.
To view the series, you must have a subscription to Hulu, which is divided into ad-supported and ad-free versions.
The package that includes advertising is available for just $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year. Additionally, the package without advertisements is $17.99 per month.
'Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini' trailer