A new documentary series is set to explore the controversial 2016 case of Sherri Papini, who fabricated her own kidnapping, promising to present a side of the story the public has not previously heard. The project delves into Papini’s background and her account of events, while its creators emphasize they have rigorously fact-checked her claims.
Papini, now 42, captured national attention eight years ago when she vanished after a jog near her Redding, California home. She was found 22 days later roughly 150 miles away, appearing injured and claiming to have been abducted by two masked women. The story later unraveled, revealing she had spent that time with a former boyfriend. In 2022, Papini pleaded guilty to making false statements to federal agents and was sentenced to 18 months in prison, along with a substantial restitution order.
The documentary’s director, Nicole Rittenmeyer, stated that the prevailing narrative has been shaped by law enforcement and Papini’s now-ex-husband, who reported her missing and later filed for divorce. Rittenmeyer argues that without a trial, Papini’s own perspective has been missing from the public record.
“Papini is an admitted liar; she does not deny that,” Rittenmeyer acknowledged. She described the process of vetting Papini’s statements as critical, assigning multiple producers to scrutinize every detail. The series includes reenactments and examines Papini’s personal history, marriage, and the psychological evaluations she underwent.
Rittenmeyer addressed the intense public criticism of Papini, particularly on social media where she has been labeled a sociopath or narcissist. The director clarified that according to multiple psychiatric evaluations, Papini was diagnosed with a personality disorder but is not a sociopath. Rittenmeyer suggested that Papini’s dishonesty stems from this disorder as a defense mechanism, rather than from traits associated with sociopathy.
The filmmaker stressed that the goal of the series is not to advocate for Papini but to present her version of events for viewers to assess independently. Notably, Papini’s children are not featured in the documentary; their images are obscured to protect their privacy. Attempts to include the former boyfriend at the center of the hoax were unsuccessful, as he declined to participate.
The multi-part series is scheduled to air over two nights, with episodes available for streaming following the broadcast. It arrives as Papini, who has since been released and granted visitation rights with her children, continues to live with the consequences of the deception that captivated and then outraged the nation.
