Sherri Papini went to jail after admitting her alleged 2016 kidnapping was a hoax, but after her release, she’s giving a different explanation now for why she should be viewed as innocent of those charges.

Sherri Papini gained worldwide attention in 2016 when she went missing for 22 days after she was abducted while out on a jog near her home just north of Redding, California. Sherri was reported missing in January 2022 by her husband, Keith, after she was reported going for a jog in her neighborhood.

The California young mom makes headlines in 2016 when she goes missing while on a jog near her Redding, California, home, and her stories haven’t stopped since. The first big development is when she shockingly is rescued on a road 22 days after her alleged abduction. The fact this happens on Thanksgiving Day is an even sweeter reward for her family and the millions of people across the globe who are invested in the mom’s safe return or life story.

Sherri resurfaces 22 days later and claims she was beaten and branded by captors. Sherri is ultimately arrested in 2022 for orchestrating her abduction. She pleads guilty to a federal judge later that year and is sentenced to 18 months in jail for committing mail fraud and lying to a federal officer about being kidnapped.

Sherri Papini admits to lying about being kidnapped in 2016, but now claims she did not lie about being held captive in the new docuseries Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie. A young California mother and wife went missing in 2016 and reappeared three weeks later, falsely telling authorities she had been abducted and tortured, but is now also speaking publicly for the first time since her prison release in Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie.

After Sherri pleaded guilty to making false statements and one count of mail fraud in connection with lying about being kidnapped in 2016, she recently came forward to switch her story once again, denying she was ever held captive. However, Sherri, just six weeks after her arrest, signs a plea deal admitting she orchestrated the hoax. She pleads guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of making false statements. In September 2022, she is sentenced to 18 months in prison following three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $300,000 (including restitution to cover the costs of the police investigation)

Earlier this year, Investigation Discovery’s Caught in the Lie, featuring Sherri Papini, illustrates claims by Papini that James Reyes is allegedly responsible for her kidnapping. Reyes disputes the allegations when interviewed by government officials and is never officially charged in connection to her kidnapping.

Joining Nancy Grace today:

Additional Guests

Dr. Stephen M. Diggs – Sherri Papini’s therapist, California licensed psychologist, Owner / Director of NYSA Therapy, Author of “Secondhand Girl: From Foster Care to Borderline Personality to Peace”, website: nysatherapy.com

Sheriff Michael Johnson – Sheriff of Shasta County [his department investigated the “original” Sherri Papini case]

Traci Brown – Body Language Expert, Author: “How to Detect Lies, Fraud and Identity Theft;” X @Tracibrown37

Kelli Saam – Anchor at Action News Now, the CBS and NBC affiliate in Redding, CA, website: actionnewsnow.com, X: @KelliSaam, Instagram and Facebook: @KelliSaamNews

“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.

[Feature Photo: Sherri Papini/Facebook]