Sherri Papinihas been arrested more than five years after hermysterious alleged abduction.
The Redding, Calif., mom was originally reported missing on Nov. 2, 2016, after she was last seen going for a jog. Shewas found22 days later on Thanksgiving day when a motoristdiscovered her on the side of the roadin Yolo County, about 150 miles south of her home.
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The DOJ’s investigation has since found that Papini fabricated the story and was allegedlystaying with a former boyfriendin Costa Mesa, even going so far asto harm herselfto support the claims.
Sherri Papini (right) and husband Keith Papini.Courtesy Keith Papini
“When a young mother went missing in broad daylight, a community was filled with fear and concern,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. “Shasta County Sheriff’s Office immediately began investigating, calling on the assistance of the FBI. Countless hours were spent following leads, all in an effort to bring this woman back to her family. Three weeks later, she was found 146 miles south of where she disappeared, and the focus went from trying to find her to trying to find her abductors.
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“Ultimately, the investigation revealed that there was no kidnapping and that time and resources that could have been used to investigate actual crime, protect the community, and provide resources to victims were wasted based on the defendant’s conduct,” Talbert added.
Papini doubled down on her story with more false statements during an August 2020 interview with a federal agent and a Shasta County Sheriff’s Office detective, despite being presented with evidence that she was not really abducted, according to the press release.
Papini faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted of making false statements to a federal officer, as well as up to 20 years and $250,000 for mail fraud.
source: people.com
