Sherri Papini is once again in the media spotlight, this time sharing her story on Nick Viall’s Viall Files podcast. During her appearance, Papini made significant claims about her ex-husband, Keith Papini, and her sister, Sheila, adding another complex layer to her widely reported saga
Papini’s “Viall Files” appearance
Papini’s interview on The Viall Files served as a platform for her to discuss her recent docuseries, Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie, which premiered on Investigation Discovery. She asserted that she lacked editorial control over the series, citing “inaccuracies” and claiming her mother’s views were misrepresented. However, her most striking statements concerned her former husband and sister.
The “inappropriate relationship” allegations
According to Papini, an “inappropriate relationship” developed between Keith and Sheila during her 2016 disappearance, and she claims they remain close. She described a home video, which she stated was cut from the docuseries, depicting Keith and Sheila in a physical interaction, followed by her father’s audible reaction: “Oh God.” Papini further characterized her sister as “toxic” and “harmful” to their parents.
Recap: Papini case & the doc
For those unfamiliar with the case, Papini vanished on November 2, 2016, while jogging. She reappeared 22 days later, claiming she had been abducted by two Hispanic women who branded her, broke her nose, and deprived her of food. Subsequent cellphone forensics, however, revealed she had been staying with her former boyfriend, James Reyes.
In March 2022, Papini pleaded guilty to mail fraud and making false statements to FBI agents. She was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay over $300,000 in restitution. Released in August 2023, she is currently under supervised release until 2026.
Her 2024 docuseries, Caught in the Lie, marks her first filmed interview since her conviction. In the series, she reenacts her disappearance, undergoes a polygraph examination, and, despite her earlier admission, now claims Reyes did abduct her, an assertion Reyes denies.
The U‑Turn: “I Was Abducted”
Papini has now reverted to claiming Reyes genuinely abducted her after she previously admitted to staging her kidnapping. She alleges she endured being chained, branded, starved, and physically abused, explaining that her initial story about the Hispanic women was fabricated to safeguard herself and her family.
So… what do we believe?
Papini portrays herself as a victim, while many critics view her as unreliable and manipulative. Online commentary reflects this skepticism, with Reddit users expressing strong doubts. One commenter noted, “She obviously doesn’t have the money yet to deploy media bots,” while another questioned, “So 4 people saw her restrained, beaten, starved, and tortured but didn’t do anything about it AND she’s just now mentioning it? Totally believable.”
Papini’s evolving narrative—from a hoax to a claimed abduction, back to a hoax, and now a renewed claim of abduction, alongside accusations against her ex-husband and sister—continues to draw public attention. As she navigates custody disputes and restitution payments, the persistent question remains: Is her latest account the truth, or another fabrication?
Published: Jun 12, 2025 12:58 pm