# Sherri Papini purported abduction (Update: She has been sentenced for faking her own kidnapping) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 25, 2016, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976 "2016-11-25T17:23:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/1 "2016-11-25T17:23:42Z")
Since Sherri Papini has returned safely to her husband I’ve notice that many stories are slipping the adjective _apparent_ in to qualify _abduction_, [such as this one.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/11/25/missing-california-mother-found-alive-three-weeks-after-her-apparent-abduction-police-say/) > [@](#): > > A Northern California woman who was apparently abducted earlier this month during a late-morning jog was found Thanksgiving Day, when she was released by her captor on a rural road in Yolo County, authorities said. > > Police said Sherri Papini, 34, who was bound in restraints, flagged down a passing motorist, who immediately alerted law enforcement. > > Authorities are searching for two Hispanic women in a dark-colored SUV; they are considered armed and dangerous, police said. Bosenko did not elaborate on the women’s relationship to the case. Anyone think there’s more here than meets the eye, or am I being way too cynical? It’s an odd sort of kidnapping, no ransom demand, victim released with nothing but minor scratches and bruises. The police haven’t said anything that would indicate they think her story is phoney but maybe they’re playing their cards close to their chest. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/2 "2016-11-25T17:30:06Z")
It’s a very odd story. Some people are speculating that her family paid a ransom privately, unbeknownst to law enforcement, and that is why she was released. But on the surface, it is very suspicious. Very vague descriptions of the kidnappers, with no apparent motive. Shades of the runaway bride story from a few years ago… ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/3 "2016-11-25T17:50:18Z")
I too am in the ‘I’m suspicious’ camp. I’ve just seen enough of these odd stories of abduction that turn out to be staged that this one sets a little ping on my BS meter. Its too bad that I’ve seen enough of the false ones, that I get suspicious when something like this pops up. But, hey, I’m human and make future judgments based on previous experiences. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/4 "2016-11-25T17:56:53Z")
They are reporting now that she was left on the highway. Bound in some way. They don’t say how she was tied. But that she could walk. Very strange case. I guess more details will come out in a few days. > **[Missing northern California mother found safe | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2016/11/24/us/missing-california-jogger-found/index.html)** > > Sherri Papini, a 34-year-old mother of two, has been found safe nearly three weeks after she vanished while jogging in northern California, Shasta County Sheriff's officials said. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/5 "2016-11-25T20:36:40Z")
I’m watching the story on CNN right now. I don’t know. Something smells a bit fishy. Listen, I don’t have to wonder if I’m being cynical or not. I know what an awful cynic I am, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this turned weirder. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/6 "2016-11-25T20:37:15Z")
“A friend of mine” is in this story up to their eyeballs. They tell me she is some kind of crazy white supremacist who has had all her recent social media scrubbed since she went missing. This outta be fun! ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/7 "2016-11-25T20:40:22Z")
Get the fuck out of here! I was thinking more along the _gorgeous blond fucks the tennis pro and covers it up with an abduction_ or something. I guess I was wrong. I was surprised. Maybe my cynicism is starting to crack. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/8 "2016-11-25T20:46:31Z")
Seems to be an extreme lack of facts in this story, resulting in the obvious questions. Either the media is covering up, or is delinquent in reporting what’s happening. This story is full of holes. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/9 "2016-11-25T21:31:01Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Seems to be an extreme lack of facts in this story, resulting in the obvious questions. > > Either the media is covering up, or is delinquent in reporting what’s happening. This story is full of holes. Trump is President. I’ll believe anything at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/10 "2016-11-25T21:36:21Z")
Via my own painstaking research (read: what I read on Twitter), someone of her name, using her maiden name, posted a screed on a skinhead website relating some story of how these mean old Latinos used to call her and her dad Nazis and how they used to get into fights all the time for defending their heritage, or some shit like that. Um, allegedly, I think is what I’m supposed to say here. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/11 "2016-11-25T23:12:16Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Via my own painstaking research (read: what I read on Twitter), someone of her name, using her maiden name, posted a screed on a skinhead website relating some story of how these mean old Latinos used to call her and her dad Nazis and how they used to get into fights all the time for defending their heritage, or some shit like that. > Um, allegedly, I think is what I’m supposed to say here. > **[umbrellaofsuspicion.com](http://ww12.umbrellaofsuspicion.com/2016/11/is-racist-rant-a-motive-in-sherri-papini-abduction/?usid=20&utid=13093847160)** > > Court Documents,Criminal Court ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/12 "2016-11-26T01:15:56Z")
Although I regularly post on a true-crime website, I hadn’t paid any attention to this story until it was reported that she was found alive. I just came from that site, and hadn’t seen anything about white supremacy; only that her (alleged?) kidnappers were two Hispanic WOMEN. 😕 :eek: ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/13 "2016-11-26T01:28:24Z")
I’m skeptical about the racist story. It hasn’t been confirmed. Her father-in-law is apparently Hispanic. [https://www.google.com/amp/people.com/crime/woman-says-she-saw-sherri-sutton-on-roadside-after-she-was-freed-i-was-certain-you-needed-help/amp/?client=ms-android-motorola](https://www.google.com/amp/people.com/crime/woman-says-she-saw-sherri-sutton-on-roadside-after-she-was-freed-i-was-certain-you-needed-help/amp/?client=ms-android-motorola) > [@](#): > > Rod Rodriguez III, Sherri’s father-in-law responded: “Thank you very much for alerting the police. We greatly appreciate your assistance.” ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/14 "2016-11-26T01:31:17Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m skeptical about the racist story. It hasn’t been confirmed. > > Her father-in-law is apparently Hispanic. > [https://www.google.com/amp/people.com/crime/woman-says-she-saw-sherri-sutton-on-roadside-after-she-was-freed-i-was-certain-you-needed-help/amp/?client=ms-android-motorola](https://www.google.com/amp/people.com/crime/woman-says-she-saw-sherri-sutton-on-roadside-after-she-was-freed-i-was-certain-you-needed-help/amp/?client=ms-android-motorola) Since the names are different, I’d guess he was her husband’s stepfather, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/15 "2016-11-26T01:38:26Z")
Probably so. Her husband is Keith Papini ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/16 "2016-11-26T01:41:56Z")
Everybody is skeptical about every part of this story, but a Hispanic (or just someone with the name Rodriguez) father in-law does absolutely nothing to discount whatever “the racist story” is. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/17 "2016-11-26T02:19:16Z")
> [@Skara\_Brae](#): > > It’s a very odd story. > > But on the surface, it is very suspicious. It is. _However_, I’ve been more cautious about bagging too hard on suspicious stories, ever since [the weird Denise Huskins case](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/denise-huskins-kidnapping-harvard-educated-attorney-matthew-muller-pleads-guilty-in-kidnapping-initially-thought-a-hoax/). ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/18 "2016-11-26T02:47:59Z")
People (usually women) have been kidnapped and held for years w/o ransom demands. Immediately to my mind are Elizabeth Smart (of course), the women in Cleveland, the young lady in California, and the boy who was located many years later b/c his abductor’s previous victim’s body was found. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/19 "2016-11-26T22:40:24Z")
Papini was hurt more than people realize. Someone had a police scanner and caught CHP’s early dispatch call. I understand the authorities are limiting information to protect their investigation. Hopefully arrests will be announced soon. It is so wonderful she got home for Thanksgiving and she’s with her family. [https://www.google.com/amp/people.com/crime/missing-california-mom-chained-beaten-sherri-papini/amp/?client=ms-android-motorola](https://www.google.com/amp/people.com/crime/missing-california-mom-chained-beaten-sherri-papini/amp/?client=ms-android-motorola) > [@](#): > > However, The Sacramento Bee reports that a radio dispatcher initially said Papini was “chained to something” when she was found. > > “CHP is on scene and advised that she is chained to something,” a radio dispatcher told a responding officer Thursday in an audio clip obtained by The Sacramento Bee. “CHP is advising that she is heavily battered.” ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/20 "2016-11-26T22:52:05Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > [https://www.google.com/amp/people.com/crime/missing-california-mom-chained-beaten-sherri-papini/amp/?client=ms-android-motorola](https://www.google.com/amp/people.com/crime/missing-california-mom-chained-beaten-sherri-papini/amp/?client=ms-android-motorola) Perhaps they were going to deep-fry her, or is it Tempura you batter? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976.md?page=2)