# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/141 "2016-12-04T22:38:28Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > The people of Redding have come together to stage a large outdoor [welcome home party](http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article118697593.html) for Sherri Papini. Good for them! > > Such support has to be very welcome and very encouraging for Sherri and her husband as she attempts to recover from what happened to her. It must be nice to see such a large public affirmation of people’s love and support for her after all the doubt and speculation about hoaxes. Right now, I’d say there’s a good upcoming opportunity for an egg-on-face mask salesman in Redding. I really do find your ability to brush aside the lack of evidence, questionable details, very odd behavior on both the family and LE sides and utter bizarreness of the claims; then construct multiple possible scenarios, building “fact” out of your own suppositions; then write a paragraph as above like your viewpoint has been validated… breathtaking. Trumpian, even, but maybe that’s the new reality. I’m really not against the Papinis or anyone here. But a hell of a lot of us watching this story would like some semblance of the validation and validity that even the oddest of these cases produce in the first few days, not weeks of seclusion and silence and uncomfortable contradictions. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/142 "2016-12-04T22:46:09Z")
It’s not clear to me why some of you feel that you are OWED explanations and validations and stuff. You aren’t. There’s no reason why she has to explain anything to you or the media. Not giving information does not mean lies are being told. For crying out loud, is no one ever entitled to a private life? ---
**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:** [December 4, 2016, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/143 "2016-12-04T22:53:03Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Right now, I’d say there’s a good upcoming opportunity for an egg-on-face mask salesman in Redding. > > I really do find your ability to brush aside the lack of evidence, questionable details, very odd behavior on both the family and LE sides and utter bizarreness of the claims; then construct multiple possible scenarios, building “fact” out of your own suppositions; then write a paragraph as above like your viewpoint has been validated… breathtaking. Trumpian, even, but maybe that’s the new reality. > I’m really not against the Papinis or anyone here. But a hell of a lot of us watching this story would like some semblance of the validation and validity that even the oddest of these cases produce in the first few days, not weeks of seclusion and silence and uncomfortable contradictions. You may not have anything against the Papini’s but you seem inclined pretty strongly toward the ‘they were up to something’ camp. Having said that, I think you’re taking all this too seriously. All of us who are speculating are well aware we don’t have all the facts. _That’s why we’re speculating!_ And being interested and perhaps emotionally invested in the case but without factual knowledge of what happened, we’re seeking to make sense of it by trying to come up with scenarios that fit with what we do know. No one here is stating any speculation as fact. We’re merely tossing things out for consideration. So neener. 😛 ---
**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:** [December 5, 2016, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/144 "2016-12-05T00:03:16Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > It’s not clear to me why some of you feel that you are OWED explanations and validations and stuff. You aren’t. There’s no reason why she has to explain anything to you or the media. Not giving information does not mean lies are being told. For crying out loud, is no one ever entitled to a private life? B/c it’s entertainment to them, other people’s struggles. Fun to watch, aggravating when they don’t guess whodunit within the first hour. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/145 "2016-12-05T00:24:03Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m guessing most bruising and swelling will go away in a couple weeks? Maybe three at the most after a bad beating? Depends. Under some circumstances you can get things like “cauliflower ear”. Scar tissue and other problems under the skin, especially when there has been a separation of the underlying cartilage and overlying tissue, can lead to permanent deformity. There are things that can be done to improve appearances and minimize these problems, but they cost money, time, and may involve surgery. > [@](#): > > The burning/branding may require surgery to remove. Maybe dermabrasion and dermaplaning procedures?. This article says burn scars need a year to fully heal before smoothing them out. Not to mention that true branding, which involves 3rd degree burns, are full thickness through the skin. Dermabrasion/dermaplaning may reduce the height of raised/keloid scars but they will not remove a full-thickness burn. That requires plastic surgery and will still leave scars, just different ones and, one hopes, less distasteful ones. > [@](#): > > Sherri should recover physically. But the mental scars will be with her much longer. Indeed. ---
**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:** [December 5, 2016, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/146 "2016-12-05T00:56:58Z")
Thank you for your comments Broomstick. I didn’t realize branding could go so deep. I guess it depends on what the criminals used. Hopefully Sherri will eventually make a full recovery. ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/147 "2016-12-05T18:18:19Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I really do find your ability to brush aside the lack of evidence, questionable details, very odd behavior on both the family and LE sides and utter bizarreness of the claims; then construct multiple possible scenarios, building “fact” out of your own suppositions; then write a paragraph as above like your viewpoint has been validated… breathtaking. Trumpian, even, but maybe that’s the new reality. Enough already. Tell us what YOU think really happened. She’s an attention whore so she faked the whole thing? The husband did it and she’s covering for him? Put up or shut up. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/148 "2016-12-05T18:22:54Z")
This… > [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I really do find your ability to brush aside the lack of evidence, questionable details, very odd behavior on both the family and LE sides and utter bizarreness of the claims; then construct multiple possible scenarios, building “fact” out of your own suppositions; then write a paragraph as above like your viewpoint has been validated… breathtaking. Trumpian, even, but maybe that’s the new reality. and this… > [@Surreal](#): > > Enough already. Tell us what YOU think really happened. She’s an attention whore so she faked the whole thing? The husband did it and she’s covering for him? > > Put up or shut up. …are stretching the bounds of civility. Kindly dial it back. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/149 "2016-12-05T19:59:04Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > It’s not clear to me why some of you feel that you are OWED explanations and validations and stuff. You aren’t. There’s no reason why she has to explain anything to you or the media. Not giving information does not mean lies are being told. For crying out loud, is no one ever entitled to a private life? Because of the use of public law enforcement resources I think the public is at least owed the answer of whether or not a crime occurred and what the safety implications might be for other people. If there is a potential rapist and kidnapper out there, I think the public is entitled to information like a known method of operation and a description. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/150 "2016-12-05T20:24:34Z")
I’m just shaking my head at the ignorance being portrayed by the news (at least ABC News, which is where I saw this). They reported, “There have been many reported disappearances and kidnappings in this same area in the last few months.” And then they actually showed an image of waves beating against the rocky coastline of HUMBOLDT COUNTY, which is two counties and a couple of hundred miles away from where this incident occurred. ---
**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:** [December 5, 2016, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/151 "2016-12-05T23:58:24Z")
So the whole family has apparently left the area in a strange truck without their pets. [Abducted jogger skips town with family and leaves dogs behind](http://nypost.com/2016/12/05/abducted-jogger-skips-town-with-family-and-leaves-dogs-behind/) ---
**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:** [December 6, 2016, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/152 "2016-12-06T00:09:51Z")
> [@Skara\_Brae](#): > > So the whole family has apparently left the area in a strange truck without their pets. [Abducted jogger skips town with family and leaves dogs behind](http://nypost.com/2016/12/05/abducted-jogger-skips-town-with-family-and-leaves-dogs-behind/) Gee, almost like they’re feeling hounded. :rolleyes: Good for them they have a dogsitter they trust on short notice so they can take a break from the coverage looking to make a buck off of them by selling them as entertainment when no one else seems to understand what they’ve been through. ---
**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:** [December 6, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/153 "2016-12-06T00:21:24Z")
The dog sitter says they are not coming back. Also, an interesting article on about the “hostage negotiator.” > **[The Shady Hostage Negotiator at the Center of Sherri Papini’s Abduction](https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-shady-hostage-negotiator-at-the-center-of-sherri-papinis-abduction)** > > Cameron Gamble came out of nowhere, supposedly at the request of an anonymous donor, to find a vanished woman. He’s not the expert he claims to be. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2016, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/154 "2016-12-06T21:06:41Z")
> [@Skara\_Brae](#): > > So the whole family has apparently left the area in a strange truck without their pets. [Abducted jogger skips town with family and leaves dogs behind](http://nypost.com/2016/12/05/abducted-jogger-skips-town-with-family-and-leaves-dogs-behind/) Well this proves it. This woman beat herself up so she could be the next Kim Kardashian. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2016, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/155 "2016-12-06T21:41:08Z")
> [@Skara\_Brae](#): > > So the whole family has apparently left the area in a strange truck without their pets. [Abducted jogger skips town with family and leaves dogs behind](http://nypost.com/2016/12/05/abducted-jogger-skips-town-with-family-and-leaves-dogs-behind/) I was hoping to see pictures of the dogs. ---
**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:** [December 6, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/156 "2016-12-06T22:30:39Z")
I love the way many of the media sources are reporting that they ‘skipped town’, as though they slunk off in the middle of the night to avoid legal consequences of some sort. It should be obvious to anyone that it would be almost impossible for them to live there now, first and foremost because they’re just as vulnerable to the bad guys (or girls) who abducted her as they always were, and who may decide to come back for seconds (or worse) or to silence her permanently. Also, and assuming they really don’t know the reason for her abduction and treatment, they could fear for the future safety not only of themselves but their children as well. Secondly, as gorgeous as she is, Sherri Papini certainly has hundreds if not thousands of potential love/lust-struck stalkers interested in her. And third, there would be curiosity seekers and looky-loos constantly driving by their house and showing up at Keith’s work, making it impossible for them to run errands, go shopping, for him to hold down a job, etc. I’ve felt from the very beginning that they’re going to have to start over somewhere else. The trick is how on earth they’ll go about it now that they’re both so well-known and recognizable. People do tend to move on though and I suppose that if Sherri’s apparently well-heeled family can keep them housed and supplied with necessities for the next six months to a year, then they’ll be able to move somewhere and quietly start to rebuild. As far as their pets go, I’m thinking maybe the house where they’re staying has been put off-limits to pets and because it’s cold and snowy where they are, keeping the dogs outside isn’t an option. But they appear to have made arrangements for their pets’ care (to be walked and so on) and hopefully they’ll be reunited with the Papinis whenever their situation so permits. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/157 "2016-12-06T22:47:39Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I love the way many of the media sources are reporting that they ‘skipped town’, as though they slunk off in the middle of the night to avoid legal consequences of some sort. Quoted for context. > [@](#): > > It should be obvious… > it would be almost impossible… > who may decide… > …to silence her permanently. > assuming they really don’t know… > they could fear… > as gorgeous as she is… > Sherri Papini certainly has […] stalkers > there would be… > I’ve felt… > People do tend to move on… > I’m thinking maybe… > But they appear… > and hopefully… In _no way intending to be uncivil_… can you tell opinions, yours and others, from the (very scant) facts in this case? ---
**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:** [December 6, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/158 "2016-12-06T23:08:44Z")
Certainly. I’m sorry you appear to be having such a hard time doing so yourself, but we aren’t in a court of law where every ‘i’ has to be dotted and every ‘t’ crossed. As I said upthread, we are mostly speculating. However, certain things can reasonably be accepted as fact without absolute proof based upon the realities of life as they exist. Among these would be the trouble the Papinis would have with curiosity seekers and looky-loos, trouble going about their daily errands and routine. The existence of lovestruck potential stalkers. Etc., etc. Why you’re having such a hard time with our speculations mixed with what we know as factual is difficult to understand. I think most of the rest of us get it though and are able therefore to have an interesting discussion on the subject. Perhaps if proven facts are all you’re concerned about it would be better if you were to bow out of the thread until such time as every facet open to speculation is factually resolved. ---
**Author:** ![Lee\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/aeb1de/32.png) [@Lee\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lee_Q)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2016, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/159 "2016-12-07T02:29:13Z")
Did anyone else following this case read the husband’s press release (or whatever it was) when she turned up? It was the oddest mix of melodramatic and flowery purple prose, like something a kid in school would write when trying to write “exciting” fiction. I’ll admit it, my first thought: Yep, whole story’s fake. About them leaving town, I only skimmed an article on that, but it had some family member saying they went “way up north where it’s really cold” to stay with a “wealthy family member.” Paraphrasing, but there was emphasis on how cold it is wherever they went, and the “wealthy family member” is verbatim. ---
**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:** [December 7, 2016, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976/160 "2016-12-07T03:33:07Z")
> [@Lee\_Q](#): > > Did anyone else following this case read the husband’s press release (or whatever it was) when she turned up? It was the oddest mix of melodramatic and flowery purple prose, like something a kid in school would write when trying to write “exciting” fiction. I’ll admit it, my first thought: Yep, whole story’s fake. > > About them leaving town, I only skimmed an article on that, but it had some family member saying they went “way up north where it’s really cold” to stay with a “wealthy family member.” Paraphrasing, but there was emphasis on how cold it is wherever they went, and the “wealthy family member” is verbatim. That quote was from the dogsitting friend. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherri-papini-purported-abduction-update-she-has-been-sentenced-for-faking-her-own-kidnapping/772976.md?page=9)