California father allegedly leaves wife and 11-year-old homeless to move in with Sherri Papini

A California mother has alleged that her partner abandoned her and their daughter to move in with Sherri Papini. Papini is the California woman infamous for staging her kidnapping in 2016. The mother, Katherine Parrick, claims her ex left her and her daughter, 11, homeless and without support. Papini has now filed a restraining order against her.

He moved into her “mansion”

According to Parrick’s GoFundMe campaign, her partner of 16 years left their family to live with Papini. As a result, Parrick alleges she was without housing, financial support, or even their daughter’s clothing. Parrick wrote, “While he moved into her ‘mansion,’ he left my daughter and I (and our two cats) homeless.” She further alleges that he has not provided any child support. She also claims he has recently sued her for custody of their daughter.

In response to Parrick’s public allegations, Sherri Papini has filed a temporary restraining order against her, according to California news outlet KRCR. A court hearing regarding the restraining order is scheduled for May 28, 2025.

“I was able to secure PERMANENT HOUSING” 

On May 22, Parrick provided an update in a follow-up post on her GoFundMe page. “Thanks to everyone’s generosity, I was able to secure PERMANENT HOUSING for my daughter and I. For details of our story, check Reddit–my posts are on r/thepapinis. ‘She’ and my ex are both coming after me—legally and by stalking me in real life, just for sharing my story.”

Parrick added in part, “I’m leaving this open for two reasons–one, to get an attorney (or two for each case, lol) and two, to secure any further donations for necessary household items for my daughter and I…We need some basics like a refrigerator, a microwave, rugs, a couch, a TV, a microwave, bedding, dressers/drawers, etc.”

The Papini case

In 2016, Papini claimed she was abducted while jogging near her home in Redding, California. She reappeared three weeks later with injuries and a fabricated story about being held captive by two Hispanic women. Investigations later revealed that she had been staying with an ex-boyfriend during her disappearance and had inflicted injuries on herself to support her false claims. In 2022, Papini pleaded guilty to making false statements and mail fraud, resulting in an 18-month prison sentence and a restitution order of $300,000.

A new four-part docuseries titled Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie premiered on Investigation Discovery on May 26, 2025. The series features Papini’s first major interview since the hoax, where she now claims that her ex-boyfriend, James Reyes, abducted and abused her, contradicting her previous admissions. The documentary features polygraph tests and reenactments, providing viewers with a deeper insight into the complexities of the case.

Parrick’s situation has garnered public sympathy, with many expressing outrage over the alleged abandonment. Her GoFundMe campaign has been shared widely, highlighting the challenges faced by single mothers and the importance of accountability.

The unfolding events surrounding Parrick and Papini underscore the far-reaching impacts of personal decisions and public actions. As legal proceedings continue, the community watches closely, hoping for justice and resolution for all parties involved.