# 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:** 11
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/201 "2017-11-09T21:34:43Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > She had kidnap/submission/BDSM fantasies; she pursued one; it went wrong; she didn’t want it to continue; her Dom/Master got carried away (to say the least); he was not capable of killing her (but capable of harming her as per the lifestlye/fantasy); he dumped her somewhere; she needs a story, so she was kidnapped by two masked women. > > /End Hmm, an interesting and plausible scenario. It seems unlikely, however, that the police wouldn’t have found evidence of such interests on her computer, phone or while investigating her background. I wouldn’t think that someone would just develop an interest in such things out of the blue, especially to the degree of following through with another party, without having shown evidence of it somewhere. Still, yours is an interesting idea and once again brings me back to the subject of the guy in Michigan who she was attempting to meet up with, and whether an investigation of him would reveal such interests. Even though she never met up with this particular guy, she could have met up with someone else who had the same proclivities, with a scenario like you describe being the result. It’d be interesting to know whether the authorities have looked into an S&M/submission/bondage scenario regarding Michigan Man and/or Sherri herself. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/202 "2017-11-10T01:06:22Z")
Between this case, the [Norwegian submarine guy](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=840124), and the [two women lost on a sailboat](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=840124) event’s new revelation that the follower was a dominatrix, it’s starting to look like getting kinky with strangers is a real high risk activity. Not that **Philster** ’s theory is sure to be true, but something in that general direction sure fits most of the evidence we have. One thing’s for sure: crimes (and sea stories) are harder to solve when the victim(s) are actively dissembling. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/203 "2017-11-10T17:53:51Z")
A red flag: The hubbie referred to her as being ‘branded’ … and people in sex slave trades and those who willingly register with a slave registry, will get a unique number, and some might tattoo this number on themselves. Like any tattoo, it’s called a ‘tattoo’. Someone unwillingly tattooed, be it with a slave number (and/or bar code) or image, will call it a tattoo. It’s… a tattoo. She escapes… she has this tattoo… she refers to it as a ‘branding’ … and this word sticks, such that even the husband uses it (really?) and this is where the flag pops up. Between her and her Dom/Master/Owner/Whatever, the ultimate fantasy word for the unique tattoo is ‘branding’. I’m seeing this as ‘off’ – because – and maybe I missed this – but she was tattooed. It’s branding in another sense… but I honestly can’t see the word branding being the one anyone who was kidnapped and tattooed calling it. Nor anyone close to them speaking in the 3rd person. And it highlights the naivete of the husband… and gives us an insight into the words SHE is using. Sans that, I don’t know what she is telling anyone, but SHE used the word branding… …and that is MOST interesting. . ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/204 "2017-11-10T18:11:49Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Between this case, the [Norwegian submarine guy](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=840124), and the [two women lost on a sailboat](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=840124) event’s new revelation that the follower was a dominatrix, it’s starting to look like getting kinky with strangers is a real high risk activity. > [@](#): > > Papini was found with hose clamps on both of her ankles. “Sorry honey, they were sold out at the Restraint Shoppe, so we’ll have to make do with whatever I can find in the garage.” ---
**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 10, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/205 "2017-11-10T19:28:10Z")
I know where she can find a good sailing partner… ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/206 "2017-11-10T22:43:05Z")
Shame the submarine is sunk & ruined and Madsen’s in jail. We coulda had a three-fer. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/207 "2017-11-10T22:46:35Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > … > I’m seeing this as ‘off’ – because – and maybe I missed this – but she was tattooed. It’s branding in another sense… but I honestly can’t see the word branding being the one anyone who was kidnapped and tattooed calling it. Nor anyone close to them speaking in the 3rd person. > > And it highlights the naivete of the husband… and gives us an insight into the words SHE is using. Sans that, I don’t know what she is telling anyone, but SHE used the word branding… > > …and that is MOST interesting. > > . IMO the early announcements when she resurfaced totally had the sound of being written by an attorney or similar who was trying to write as if they were a PR person. The style is “A spokesman for Papini said …” even though the words were read out by the husband as a supposedly self-written piece mostly speaking his own mind. Og knows illiterate folks write some incomprehensible shit. Even more so under major stress. This was different; bad in very unlikely ways. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/208 "2017-11-11T18:30:20Z")
Don’t really understand the “branding” thing. When I’ve read about sex cults, like the one allegedly featuring that Smallville actress 2nd in command, I always read about them branding victims and victims being branded. I don’t hear/read about them being called tattoos. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/209 "2017-11-11T19:58:40Z")
Yeah, instead of a [tattoo](http://assets.change.org/photos/2/aw/ub/rbAwUBLECCWhjnL-1600x900-noPad.jpg?1423834550) I’m picturing something more like [this](http://www.realnews24.com/dynasty-star-exposes-sex-slavery-ring-that-brands-victims-like-cattle-police-refuse-to-investigate/). ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/210 "2017-11-11T20:11:46Z")
Sex is such a bizarre realm. I don’t know of any other area of human behavior where so many odd, freaky, risky, damaging compulsions occur, or at the other end where so many people freak out over things that are fairly minor. ---
**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 11, 2017, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/211 "2017-11-11T23:17:47Z")
I fully expected Sherri to exploit her 15 mins of Fame. It’s been a nice surprise that she has avoided all media for the past year. I have no idea what happened or whether she played any part in it. She obviously isn’t looking for notoriety or money. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/212 "2017-11-12T00:18:19Z")
One (uncharitable) interpretation is that she’s profoundly embarrassed that her fantasy adventure turned out so badly. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/213 "2017-11-12T00:31:27Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > One (uncharitable) interpretation is that she’s profoundly embarrassed that her fantasy adventure turned out so badly. So I really just came in here for the kink, but it sounds like if the prevailing theory is true, she tried to do a consensual BDSM thing and ended up being held captive, raped, and beaten instead. Her only choice then would be to tell the truth about what happened to the public, thus inviting ignorant people to blame her for her own victimization, or to be quiet about it or outright lie about it, leaving people to speculate. I’m not sure embarrassment quite covers it. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/214 "2017-11-12T06:50:22Z")
Yeah, vanilla sexual encounters never begin consensually and end with criminal actions. :rolleyes: The kink theory has its merits, but I am still leaning towards the mistaken identity “snatch and thrash” camp. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/215 "2017-11-12T11:51:38Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > So I really just came in here for the kink, but it sounds like if the prevailing theory is true, she tried to do a consensual BDSM thing and ended up being held captive, raped, and beaten instead. Her only choice then would be to tell the truth about what happened to the public, thus inviting ignorant people to blame her for her own victimization, or to be quiet about it or outright lie about it, leaving people to speculate. > > I’m not sure embarrassment quite covers it. Agree. I was struggling with what terminology to use. I chose massive understatement. My overall point was a response to the folks wondering why she wasn’t trying to cash in on her proverbial 15 minutes of fame. Assuming she’s fully rational (c.f. Appel the non-sailor) my POV is that she believes there’s some _major_ downside to her trying to do so. If reality is as **AK84** suggests, she’d be able to play the victim / plucky survivor / not-quite-hero fairly successfully. There’d always be trolls insisting she deserved it because all women do, but that vicious crap is just part and parcel of being a celebrity. The payback for getting trolled by a tiny minority of the usual jerks is cashing in from everybody else. If OTOH reality is a BDSM scene gone very bad, then as you say she’s \*really \*in a no-win situation. She sure didn’t deserve what she got, but now the trolls will be the majority of the public who believe kinky=Eeeevvvviiiillll. So she’s A) likely to fail at victim / plucky survivor / not-quite-hero AND B) likely to fail at cashing in. That’s a powerful motivator to go into hiding & shut up. When you’re in a hole, stop digging. Even if you only dug a couple percent of it yourself and the rest is a cave-in. ---
**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 12, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/216 "2017-11-12T15:50:16Z")
It’s amazing that Thanksgiving will be a year since Sherri appeared on that highway. It seems so much longer than that. A lot has happened in the past year. I hope for her kids sake that Sherri settles back into anonymity. They need their mom. ---
**Author:** ![Roy\_Batty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Roy\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roy_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2017, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/217 "2017-11-14T03:59:15Z")
I’ve doubted the SP abduction “story” since day 1 - there are too many holes. Just my .02. ---
**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 14, 2017, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/218 "2017-11-14T09:56:00Z")
(no relation) ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2017, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/219 "2017-11-14T20:25:05Z")
My own pet theory:[ol] [li]She ditched her husband for a weekend of crazy sexytimes with some lover in some hotel.[/li][li]Husband, knowing only that she disappeared, concocts the “found the phone” story to create some urgency in the media. This was not part of her plan.[/li][li]Her new squeeze sees on the news that she’s missing and there’s a manhunt in progress, says “hell with this noise”, and takes off.[/li][li]She holes up for a little while, concocting a plausible story; meanwhile, she has no cards and very little cash, so she’s losing weight.[/li][li]She finds a few things that she can use as restraints, and puts her “escape” plan in motion. She cuts her hair and inflicts some reasonably convincing injuries.[/li][li]She sprints toward the highway so that if anyone sees her on the way, she can say she just escaped her captors.[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2022, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/220 "2022-03-05T07:35:58Z")
Updating this thread: > **[California jogger Sherri Papini staged own violent kidnapping, FBI says](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/04/california-kidnapping-sherri-papini)** > > Papini’s 2016 disappearance was long cloaked in confusion, as a friend raised funds for a ‘reverse ransom’ > **[Sherri Papini ordered to remain in jail on charges she faked her own...](https://www.redding.com/story/news/2022/03/04/sherri-papini-jail-fake-kidnapping-abduction-charges/9382455002/)** > > A judge will reconsider on Tuesday whether Sherri Papini remains in jail. She's charged with lying to federal investigators and committing mail fraud. Here is the arrest warrant: [https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/press-release/file/1479901/download](https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/press-release/file/1479901/download) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976.md?page=12)