Sherri Papini Claims New Story in Documentary After Kidnapping Hoax

Redding, California — Sherri Papini, known for her high-profile disappearance in 2016, is now claiming in a new docuseries that she was actually kidnapped by her former boyfriend. The four-part docuseries, titled Caught in the Lie, is set to premiere on May 26 on Investigation Discovery and streaming on Max.

Papini vanished for 22 days while jogging near her home in Redding, only to reappear with disturbing claims she had been abducted by two Hispanic women. However, she later admitted that her dramatic kidnapping was fabricated to cover up an affair with James Reyes.

In her latest revelations, Papini, now 42, says she created the story of the two abductors out of fear of her husband, Keith Papini. “I was concealing an affair… who was threatening to take everything from me if he found out,” she stated in an exclusive clip from the documentary.

She alleges that Reyes came to Redding without understanding that she intended to break things off. “I was abducted,” she insists, recalling waking up in a vehicle not knowing how she got there. Papini described her state as confusing and distressing, stating, “This is not where I’m supposed to be.”

Evidence presented in the documentary suggests a different scenario. DNA found on her clothing was linked to Reyes, who denied her allegations, claiming she planned the encounter. “I was just a friend in need asking for help,” Reyes said, maintaining that the entire situation was her doing.

After her disappearance, local authorities and neighbors conducted extensive searches for Papini, leading to a GoFundMe campaign that raised over $49,000 for her family. Papini later confessed to lying to investigators and was sentenced in 2022 to 18 months in federal prison for her actions, serving less than a year.

Reyes has declined to comment on Papini’s recent claims. The premiere of Caught in the Lie promises to present a stark contrast to the narrative that once captivated millions, as viewers will hear her account of events that took place during her 2016 disappearance.