California woman sentenced to prison for faking her own kidnapping

A California woman who faked her own kidnapping in 2016 was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Monday, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Sherri Papini was reported missing after going out on a jog near her home in Shasta County in Northern California. She was found three weeks later about 140 miles away and injured.

At the time, she told police she had been kidnapped and tortured by two Spanish-speaking women who wore masks all the time. She said the women kept her chained to a pole, branded her with a heated tool, and held her at gunpoint.

Authorities spent several years looking for the alleged kidnappers. Additionally, Papini received more than $30,000 from the state in victim compensation funds.

However, in 2020, her story fell apart. Investigators connected DNA found on her clothing to an ex-boyfriend, who told them that the kidnapping was a hoax.

"Papini planned and executed a sophisticated kidnapping hoax, and then continued to perpetuate her false statements for years after her return without regard for the harm she caused others," prosecutors said in the filing. "As a result, state and federal investigators devoted limited resources to Papini's case for nearly four years before they independently learned the truth: that she was not kidnapped and tortured."

"Papini caused innocent individuals to become targets of a criminal investigation," prosecutors added. "She left the public in fear of her alleged Hispanic capturers who purportedly remained at large."

Judge William B. Shubb determined that Papini should serve a year and a half in prison and 36 months of supervised release after she admitted to the hoax and pleaded guilty in April. Additionally, she was ordered to pay $310,000 in restitution.

"I am so sorry to the many people who have suffered because of me. The people who sacrificed for the broken woman I was. The people who gave willingly to help me in a time that I so desperately needed help. I thank you all," Papini read in a statement to the judge.