In November 2016, Keith Papini’s life turned upside down when his wife, Sherri, went missing after going for a jog near their home in Redding, California. He reported her disappearance to the police and launched a desperate search for her, believing she was kidnapped by unknown assailants. He even offered a $50,000 reward for any information leading to her safe return.
Three weeks later, Sherri was found on a rural road more than 100 miles from her home, bound and injured. She claimed she was abducted by two Hispanic women who tortured and branded her for unknown reasons. Keith was overjoyed to see his wife alive and supported her story, even giving a detailed account of her ordeal to the media.
However, the police soon realized that Sherri was lying about her kidnapping. They discovered that she had run away with an ex-boyfriend, James Reyes, whom she had contacted through a texting app. She had told him that Keith was abusing her and that she wanted to escape from him. She also fabricated the kidnapping story to cover up her affair and avoid facing the consequences of her actions.
In March 2022, Sherri Papini was arrested and charged with one count of mail fraud and one count of making false statements to the authorities. She pleaded guilty to both charges in April 2022 and was sentenced to 18 months in prison in September 2022. She also had to pay back more than $300,000 in restitution to various agencies that incurred losses because of her lies.
Sherri’s arrest and conviction came as a shock to Keith, who had no idea that his wife had betrayed him and deceived him for years. He was present at the police interview where Sherri confessed to her hoax and denied everything. He was also in the courtroom when she was sentenced and showed no emotion as she was taken away.
According to CNN, Keith told the investigators: “Now you are telling me, ‘Ok, you can go home now,’ Well, do you think I want her anywhere around my kids or around me at this point? I’m in shock.”
After learning the truth about his wife’s disappearance, Keith Papini decided to end his marriage with Sherri. He filed for divorce in April 2022 and asked for full custody of their two children, a son and a daughter. He claimed that Sherri was not fit to be a mother and that she had traumatized their children with her lies.
According to the Associated Press, Keith wrote in his divorce filing: “The children have now learned that their mother lied to them about her disappearance, lied to them about how she was abused by two Hispanic women, and lied to them about her arrest. The fact that their mother lied to them on such a major issue is something they, and I, are having a hard time dealing with.”
Keith also requested that he be granted the couple’s property and be relieved of responsibility for Sherri’s debts. He said that he had spent much time and money trying to find his wife when she went missing and that he had suffered emotional distress because of her hoax.
The divorce and custody case is still pending in court as of January 2023. The couple is scheduled to address custody issues at a court hearing on May 9.
Despite the turmoil caused by his wife’s kidnapping hoax, Keith Papini has managed to move on with his life. He is raising his children in Mountain Gate, California, away from the media attention. He works as a carpenter and drops off his kids at school every day.
According to the Daily Mail, Keith has been spotted wearing a wedding ring on his finger, suggesting that he might have remarried or found a new partner. However, he has not confirmed or denied any rumors about his personal life.
Keith has also avoided speaking publicly about his wife’s case since 2016. He has not given any interviews or statements to the press since Sherri’s arrest and conviction. He has also deleted his social media accounts and kept a low profile.
Keith Papini now seems to be focused on providing a stable and loving environment for his children. He has not let his wife’s betrayal affect his relationship with them. He has also shown resilience and strength in overcoming the challenges he faced because of her lies.
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