True Crime Vault: To Have and to Hoax

Step into the 2020 [music]. true crime vault where each story is. unforgettable. >> I mean essentially you were the target. of one of the biggest hoaxes perpetrated. on America in years. >> Next tonight here the desperate search. for a missing mother in California. >> Sherri Papini. >> Sherri Papini. >> Why did you lie? >> I didn't do anything wrong. >> Right now you're not telling the truth. which is doing something wrong.

>> Her then husband finally revealing the. whole story. >> So when I pulled back the curtain and I. saw her and I saw the look in her eyes, I felt in that moment [music] that she. was lying. >> Branding, hockey pucks against her arms. and legs, the disappearance, why would. she do all of this to herself? >> I can't remember if she said we don't. want to hurt you, we don't want to kill. you. >> There were definitely lots of people. saying oh this is BS, this is an obvious. hoax.

>> But then things get far more twisted. >> There's information that I think you. have about the abduction. >> There's evidence that says you were. around. >> It's a massive break in the case. >> And now it all comes crumbling down. >> Oh my gosh, do we have a monster in our. midst? >> This is very weird for me cuz I know. that you know everything. about everything. >> She never took a break. Every single day. she committed to the lie.

>> [music]. >> This fire deep [singing and music]. inside. it never stops or runs. You better [singing] start or run. And there's no turning back [music] now. No turning back now. Don't make a sound.

>> [snorts]. >> Best not make a sound. There's no turning back now. >> 511, what is your. >> Um so I just got home from work and. my wife wasn't there which is unusual. >> She was reported missing [music] at. about 5:30 p.m. on November 2nd. >> Found her phone and it's got like hair. ripped out of it. Like in the. headphones. So I'm like totally freaking. out thinking like somebody like just. grabbed her.

>> name? >> Sherri. S H E R R I. >> My name is Sergeant Kyle Wallace with. the Shasta County Sheriff's Office. [music] I was the lead investigator for. the Sherri Papini investigation. >> Okay, what's your last name? >> Yes. [music] Papini. P A P I N. [clears throat] I. >> And your first name? >> Uh Keith. >> Okay, are you headed back to the house. or where you at right now? >> I'm at the end of the driveway. >> Let's just have the officers contact you. so they can start, you know, processing. everything, figure out what's going on, okay? >> [music]. >> There's no turning back now.

>> The whole Sherri Papini story [music]. was just a huge bombshell to this area. >> The search is intensifying for a wife. and mother who disappeared while jogging. in Redding, California. [music]. >> The briefing was we have a lady that's. out jogging, came up missing. Husband. came home and not to find her. And then. the kids were still at daycare. >> Sherri was last seen about a mile from. her home in Mountain Gate.

>> Search teams are looking everywhere, trying to piece together what happened. to Sherri Papini. >> You had this [music] beautiful blonde. mom of two who all of a sudden had. vanished. And whenever we have the. [music] abduction, especially of a mom, everyone panics. >> She is considered at risk due to the. suspicious circumstances. >> There was definitely uh, a sense [music]. of fear. We just knew that, uh, a young. woman had been taken somewhere near the. I-5 freeway. >> Her family suspecting something [music].

went terribly wrong. >> Someone took our daughter, snatched her. out of thin air. >> What does it feel [music] like to have. that thought. that somebody has abducted your wife? Scared? >> I was scared. >> Everything from day one had your hairs. up on the back of your neck, just trying. to figure [music] out what was going on. >> Sherri's disappearance was the start of. a mystery that would grip the entire. [music] country as detectives searched. for answers in the rural Northern. California town of Redding.

>> [music]. >> Redding is unique. Northern California, 2 hours north of Sacramento. Roughly. 180,000 people that live in [music]. Shasta County, but half of those people. live in greater Redding area. >> It's just a very [music] get-'er-done. kind of community that helps one. another. >> [music]. >> Sherri has been described as a supermom. >> Yeah. She's always wanted to be home. with her babies, and to be an important. role in their lives.

>> From everyone we talked to, Sherri, who. was a stay-at-home mom, cherished her. family life, doting on their 4-year-old. son Tyler and their 2-year-old daughter. Violet. >> Well, I know my sister would never leave. her children, [music] never leave her. babies. >> They were a very nice couple, sweet, sweet young people. >> She's just very [music] kind-hearted and. different from other girls that I have. dated throughout the years. She's just. so down-to-earth. >> Keith [music] and Sherri's love story is. really rather sweet. They shared a very.

electric first kiss in [music] the. seventh grade, and they stayed close and. continued to communicate all through. junior high. >> We have a unique story. Years later, we. kind of [music] reconnected. And I. remembered that I kept her notes that. she wrote me. I took her out on a date. and I handed her a [music] box and of. course it was like all our little love. notes back and forth. >> I mean this is like a cosmic connection. >> Yeah, yeah. No, like we were always. meant to be. >> [music]. >> for sure. >> For Keith, there was never anyone but.

Sherri. He knew he wanted to marry her. and he did in 2009. They later had two. beautiful kids. They're all living. together in the very same house [music]. where Keith grew up. >> Their whole relationship has just been a. storybook relationship. They do [music]. just very sweet things for one another. >> Even her wedding [music] photos looks. like a celebrity wedding. Just so. glamorous. >> The cutest, [music] prettiest couple.

>> We see these amazing family pictures. [music] Absolutely perfect. Everybody's. so happy. That is an incredible stark. contrast [music]. to the anguish we saw from Keith in. November of 2016. >> [music]. >> Take me back to that day. >> It was a little cold in the morning, but. it was a it was it was a nice day. I went to work and I didn't get home. until around 5:00. [music].

>> He just came home to an empty house, which was unusual for him. >> I looked in a few different rooms and I. couldn't find anybody. [music] So, I. thought, "Okay, maybe maybe they're. outside.". I looked around outside [music] and. couldn't find them. >> He thinks they're just on a walk, but as. time passes and they're still not home, started looking for his family. >> Then I called [music] our daycare type. place. First thing I said is, "What time did Sherri pick [music] up. the kids today?" And when she said, "The.

kids are here.". That was like, "Something is wrong.". >> Keith goes to the Find My Phone app and. he starts to track where [music]. Sherri's iPhone is. >> It's about a mile away, actually, near. our mailbox. I wasn't looking for a phone. I was. looking for Sherri. When I didn't find Sherri, I parked.

and I got out. And now I'm looking for a phone cuz it's. saying it's here. It's here. >> Keith was so smart. He took a picture of. the phone when he found it because he. thought it was weird, but he knew it was. important and he wanted to show it to. the police. >> Where exactly. >> [music]. >> did Keith find Sherri's phone? >> So, the phone was found right near the. intersection of Old Oregon Trail. and Sunrise, just a short distance away.

>> I knew something was wrong. My first. thing was. somebody took her. >> And [music] that begins the search for. Sherri Papini. >> Keith is panicked. He's calling [music]. everyone he knows, friends, family. >> When I heard Keith's voice on the phone, I fell down and just started crying. My. sister's gone. >> Please bring her home. She has [music]. babies. She loves them. >> I said, "There's not going to be a happy.

ending to this.". I thought she's going to turn out dead. >> This morning, search teams scouring. these rural roads and trails trying to. piece [music] together what happened to. Sherri Papini. >> We're just using a map and we're doing. some grid searches. >> The married mother of two vanishing. [music] without a trace last Wednesday. afternoon while jogging near her. Redding, California [music] home. >> It wasn't just that Sherri was missing.

and her cell phone was found. [music]. It's that her wallet, her purse, her. keys were all at home. She hadn't used. her credit cards, she hadn't been to the. bank, the ATM, nothing. >> Ms. Papini has been entered into a. national computer for missing persons. She is considered at risk uh due to the. suspicious circumstances. >> Everybody. everybody put your good thoughts out.

there, put your prayers out there, and. let's find Sherri. [music]. >> How quickly did public attention start. to focus on this case and the Papinis? >> Oh, immediately. Every day, you couldn't. turn your TV on without seeing, you. know, Sherri's picture. >> The desperate search for a missing. mother. >> Sherri Papini. >> Last seen on Wednesday. >> The 34-year-old has been missing It got. >> massive headlines. I mean, everyone was. following the Sherri Papini case.

>> story that's capturing nationwide. attention. >> Sherri Papini. >> Sherri [music] Papini. >> Sherri Papini. >> The amount of uh national attention was. quite overwhelming. All the cameras, all. the reporters, everybody going around. trying to, you know, get their own. angle. >> The community responded. There was. hundreds of volunteer searchers within. the first couple of days. >> The longer that someone's missing, that's very critical time within the. first, you know, 24 hours. >> Are we down on houses? >> It was really a wide variety of our.

community coming together to [music] the. help the Papini family. >> Not only does. >> [music]. >> the family offers a reward for the safe. return of Sherri, but so do perfect. strangers. A GoFundMe page is set up. >> That page, set up by Keith's friends, promises all funds will go directly to. the family to aid in search efforts to. bring Sherri home. In total, raises. nearly $50,000.

>> They probably had a couple of hundred. volunteers that were scouring this area. looking for any evidence. >> [music]. >> Keith is volunteering in the search. He. has tremendous support from friends and. family and they had a single mission. >> [music]. >> to leave no stone unturned. >> I remember hiking. looking for evidence, looking for. Sherry. Then we start to see [music] some birds. circling.

They're like, you know, there's a lot of. birds starting to circle over there. And I just. went to my knees. and uh. I thought am I really am I really hiking. out here to look for my wife and do I. even want to. I don't want to find her right now, but. I do want to find her. One of my good friends came over and. just, you know, hugged me and let me cry. on her shoulder for a little bit. Yeah, it was a.

that was a that was a tough one for me. that day. >> All this time you're [music] dealing. with this you've still got. two little kids to think about. >> Fortunately, I have a very. I have an amazing family, an amazing. friends and they really really came to. the rescue. on that. Kept them happy, >> [music]. >> kept them out of this. >> Still, Keith knew he had to find a way. to explain to his young son Tyler why. his mom was away from [music] home.

>> Told him I had something important to. tell him and he. he jump. >> [clears throat]. >> he jumped up on the couch with me and he. knew he knew someone was up. and he said, "Dad, you can tell me. anything.". For a little 4-year-old to say that. I wasn't prepared [music] for that and I. just said uh. I was like, "Son, you know, uh. >> [music]. >> Mommy went running and. and she could she didn't come home and. we just held each other and.

>> [music]. >> and I said. she said, "Are you looking for her?" I. said, "Everybody in the whole world is. looking for her right now.". And I said, "We're going to find her and. and we're going to get her back.". >> ABC News has learned police have. suspended the ground search for the. missing 34-year-old. Detectives now. scouring surveillance video. >> It is very frustrating for our. investigators that we haven't gotten any. viable leads or tips to pursue on.

>> What was Keith's behavior like those. first few days after Sherri went. missing? >> He would answer every media. um outlet every chance to get on TV. >> I feel that she's going to come home and. I want to be home when she comes home, so. >> I interviewed Keith several times and he. would contact me and say, "Can we do. something more on Sherri? What else can. be done?" Just to keep her face on the. TV screen. >> It is excruciating. Um I don't like to. uh think too much about it because uh. you know, I just assume that uh I'm. going to get a phone call any second or.

she's going to, you know, show up at my. house. >> He was trying to keep her story out. there and keep her picture out there, but the detectives were watching TV. every day to see if we can pick pieces. out of some of these interviews he was. doing. >> Cuz you were still eyeing him as a. possible suspect. >> Yeah, definitely. Yeah, we were looking. at that. >> Basically, there were some. inconsistencies [music] in his story. that made you a little bit suspicious of. him. >> Sure. >> So, at this time, you're not only. dealing with the disappearance of your. wife, having [music] to break it to your. kids, but you're also the prime suspect. The.

sheriff's office thinks that you had. something to do with Sherri's. disappearance. >> Yeah. It never occurred to me at first that. people would think it was me and then, you know, when you step back and you. kind of look at this from an outside. perspective, I'm sure you go, "Oh, it's. it's the. it's the husband.". I remember family members were like, "You need a You need to get a lie. detector test and you need to get this. and this because they're they're saying. all these mean things about you." I.

never cared what other people were. saying. >> Clearly, investigators must do their due. diligence in looking into Keith's life. and activities. [music] But at the same. time, with a missing woman, they need to. know about her, too. >> We were looking into a little bit of. everything. Financials, we found where. she had been. previously married and had been. divorced. >> [music]. >> Investigators learned Sherri had married. a Marine sergeant in 2006, which he said.

was because she needed health insurance. He said they never actually lived. together and divorced in 2008. And in a. quick turnaround, Sherri and Keith. married the very next year. >> We. >> [music]. >> checked with her ex-husband who lives. out of state and found that he had not. heard or seen from talked to her in. probably 6 years or more. So, that was. not a a viable lead. >> [music]. >> Even after an exhaustive search, investigators still have no solid leads.

They're no closer to finding Sherri or. figuring out how she apparently. disappeared in the middle of the day. >> We were going to keep every option open. and keep the keep an open mind that. this could be any type of situation. It. could be foul play, it could be a. kidnapping, she could be voluntarily. gone on her own. >> [music]. >> The Terry and Marilyn Smith take one. more.

>> It just brought back a flood of. memories. >> The last time anybody saw Sherri Smith, it was on this remote gravel road. >> Another. pretty blonde girl missing again from. Redding. >> There's a resemblance of Tera Smith and. Miss Papini, [music]. which made it maybe even a little bit. more eerie. >> [music].

>> A missing mother in California. >> The family convinced she was abducted. >> When you think about it, it's really. rather unusual for a person [music] just. to be snatched off the street in the. middle of a jog, but in Redding, California, it was not the first time. >> [music]. >> The last major disappearance in this. county was of Tera Smith. >> That's correct. >> Hey, Aunt Terry Lynn. >> Yeah.

My granny's car. >> Tera was 16. Very outgoing, very friendly, uh well-liked by just about everybody. that knew her. >> You'll be great. Thanks, Mom. >> We did everything together. We were at church [music] every Sunday. together. We had a very um close. church family. >> She was a good daughter. She um I mean, we had typical teenage confrontations, you know, as most people do.

>> Tera Smith was 16 years of age. Seemed. to be extremely active in school, very. good student, had lots and lots of. friends. >> She had recently started taking a. Taekwondo class with one of her best. friends. She was spending time at the dojo and. had this new instructor, Troy Zink. >> The Smiths owned and operated a family. entertainment center in the town of. Redding, and Tera was the oldest of.

their four children. She helped out at. the family business, and she was. supposed to be working that night. >> So, 6:00 comes and goes, and she doesn't. show up, and that's not like her. >> She always. where she was supposed to be, when she. was supposed to be. >> [music]. >> So, I called home. Her younger daughter, who was 10, said that she had gone for a. run. And she hadn't come back. >> What started off looking at it from the. perspective that this is just a teenage.

kid, maybe somebody else's house, visiting somebody. >> Started driving all the roads, looking. for her running somewhere. >> [music]. >> Started calling her friends, and nobody. had seen Tara. We just couldn't find. her. We just couldn't find her. >> [music]. >> One of her friends called back and said. she believed her Taekwondo instructor, Troy Zink, had an inappropriate. relationship with her.

>> On the very first night she was missing, Mr. [music] and Mrs. Smith. were looking through her bedroom and. came across some journals that Tara. kept. And in reading her journals, there. were pages in there relating to a. relationship between Tara Smith and Troy. Zink. >> They also say they found this four-page. letter that Tara had addressed to Troy. Zink. To the Smiths, it seemed to. confirm that she was involved in an. intimate relationship with him. She.

wrote, "I know that what I'm doing is. wrong. There is no way to overlook this. fact. It's against God's will, and we. both know it.". But the letter also makes it clear that. Tara had deep regrets, [music] and she. decided to end the relationship. She. wrote, "Ask yourself this question. Are. you putting yourself and us before God? I know I am, but not anymore.". >> We think she intended to give the letter. to him, and then. opted to meet him in person instead.

[music]. >> We know. that she did call him the The of her. disappearance, which is Saturday. She. wanted to meet with him [music] to tell. him in person that she was calling off. the relationship. >> I called the house. Talked to his wife [music]. and she didn't know where he was. But he wasn't at home. >> [music]. >> At this point, the Smiths call the. police and an officer is sent [music] to. Troy Zink's home. Now, he's nowhere to.

be found and Zink never contacted police. that night, but guess who he did call? The Smith family. >> He did get home and called us back. >> Like 11:00. >> And said that Tara had called him. and. asked him to come to her on the road. back behind our property and she asked. [music] for money. >> He claims that he told her he wouldn't. give her the money, that she got angry, started cussing at him and screaming and.

hollering. And he ultimately dropped her off. at an intersection. >> And he says that. he last saw her jogging east on that. fairly busy road. >> And then he proceeded to go home, get. his dogs and then go up to the mountain. to pray. >> [music].

>> The last time anybody saw [music] Tara. Smith, it was right here on this remote. gravel road, just about a quarter of a. mile from where she lives with her. family. >> I remember covering this case so well. I. covered it for a while. Last person. [music] to see her was Troy Zink. >> Police launched an extensive search for. Tara, but no body or any trace of her. was ever found. >> Mr. Zink, could we have just a second? >> Once Troy Zink was named a person of. interest, he retained a lawyer and then.

refused to talk to investigators or. submit to a polygraph test. And while. that case still remains open to this. day, Zinc is on the record saying he had. nothing to do with Tara's disappearance. and he was never charged. >> I know there remains something is always. found. People [music] don't just go. missing and are never recovered. And sadly, that's not the case. >> 18 years had passed since Sherri Smith. went missing, [music] a tragedy still.

fresh in the minds of the Redding. community, when Sherri Papini. disappeared in a similar way. >> It was on the investigators' minds. In. fact, there is a resemblance of Sherri. Smith and Ms. Papini, which made it. maybe even a little bit more eerie. >> The hunt for a woman who vanished. without a trace. >> We lost our daughter. She. She never came back, so [music] I don't. think we thought Sherri would be found. >> This whole incident just brought back. that fear and concern in our community.

[music] that was rampant back then when. the Smith woman was missing. >> Missing mother last seen jogging near. her home. >> What happened to Sherri Papini? >> That's part of what made our community. really get behind Keith [music] and his. efforts. >> It is very difficult for me and for my. family. I would never wish [music] this. feeling upon anybody. It is taking its. toll on me. >> Now, at this point, Keith is contacted. by someone who claims he can help as a. hostage negotiator. >> These videos this guy was putting out,

when I watched them, I was I was a. little shocked. >> I wanted to make it so tempting that. abductor's own mother would have turned. him in. >> [music]. >> At the end of the seventh day of the. search for Sherri Papini, investigators. [music] seemed no closer to finding her. >> I'm just wondering about her health. Are. Are feeding her? Is she hot? Is she. cold?

>> The rule of thumb for criminologists in. any missing person's case is that the. first 72 hours are critical. And with. every passing hour, the chances of. finding the victim alive fade. [music]. So, investigators looking for Sherri are. desperate for a break. But still, at. this point, the only piece of evidence. they have to go [music] on was her. phone. >> The phone was found in this general area. right here, facing up. Uh her earbuds were somewhat coiled and.

placed on top of the phone, and there. was a few strands of her hair. uh with the earbud. >> Did it make you think that perhaps it. was staged? >> It looked like it could have been placed. there. It didn't look like the phone was. thrown down or just uh haphazardly set. off to the side. >> There's so much about the abduction that. just doesn't add up. And so, with so very little to go on, investigators could only do one thing at. this point, and that's focus their. attention on Keith Papini.

>> We called in a polygraph examiner to. polygraph Keith. >> I was like, "No problem. Let's hurry up. and get this over with. It's a crazy. feeling just. going through that.". >> Did they ask you if you had anything to. do with Sherri's disappearance? >> These tests, they don't they don't tell. you if uh if it's a big lie or a small. lie. They just know like when you're. lying. >> How did he do on that polygraph test? >> He passed polygraph. [music]. >> Local officials are saying her husband's. polygraph test indicates that he had no.

involvement with her disappearance, adding that they were also able to. confirm his whereabouts the day she went. [music] missing. >> Everything that he did that day, we were. able to corroborate. He was with another. co-worker that we were able to say that. he was with him all day. >> In most cases of domestic abuse or. disappearance, >> [music]. >> the spouse or the partner has something. to do with it. >> That never bothered you. I knew. obviously I had nothing to do with it. and I didn't care. I looked past all. that.

>> Police are still no closer to locating. Sherri or figuring out why she was taken. or by whom. >> We need something tangible to hold on to. and when you don't have that or you're. dancing around some answers that may be. there it can get very frustrating and. taxing and tiring. >> Now at this point Keith is contacted by. someone who claims he can help as a. hostage negotiator. His name is Cameron.

Gamble and he tells Keith that an. anonymous donor has offered $50,000. for Sherri's safe return no questions. asked. >> You don't know who the anonymous person. is. >> No. I. >> It's anonymous to you as well. >> Yes. >> My name is Cameron Gamble and I'm an. international kidnapping and ransom. consultant. I've been retained by an. individual who wishes to remain. anonymous. >> Who is Cameron Gamble? We know he's a former Air Force senior. airman who makes a living training.

military, law enforcement, even private. citizens on how to evade and escape. capture. >> There was no. idea. or thought that if I think it could work. that I was not going to try. >> Gamble decides to post [music] a video. on YouTube promising the kidnappers a. payday. >> Take advantage of this opportunity. >> But there is one very important. condition. They must return Sherri by. the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

>> What made you so confident that this was. an abduction. and not something else? >> Everything I looked at fit that bill. Look at the husband, he wasn't faking. it. Look at Sherri herself, this isn't. the type of girl who's just going to. walk away from all that. >> Bring her home. >> Bring her home safe. There's a [music]. $50,000 reward. Bring her home. >> Cameron Gamble makes this public plea. specifically to the kidnappers [music]. and he says, "I will work with you. I will talk to you. I will negotiate.

this. Contact me." Well, of course they. don't contact him. >> Your critics would say that this is a. publicity stunt. >> They can say that all they want. I don't. do this for the critics. I do this for. the small number that actually matter. and that being Keith and Sherry. >> I don't know your motive. I don't know. who you are. I don't care. I simply care. about getting Sherry back. >> Did you ever expect someone to ring you. up and say, "I have [music] Sherry. I. want the money.". >> I was hopeful. >> You were so convinced [music] that. Sherry was still alive.

>> You know, you go into these situations. thinking they're dead then you lose hope. right off the bat. >> Though Cameron Gamble's motivations are. sincere for the investigators on the. case, his involvement muddies up what. was already a murky case. >> We were opposed [music] to it and the. reason we were, this would create. cooks, scam artists, con artists coming. out of the woodwork. >> some big opponents to this and the. sheriff was adamantly opposed. >> Yeah. To Cameron Gamble being involved. in any way.

>> For me, I was going to do everything I. could to get my wife back. >> The deadline for the ransom comes and. goes. Not a peep from the kidnappers. [music] So, on the day before. Thanksgiving, Gamble throws a Hail Mary. >> [music]. >> The ransom is now a six-figure bounty. and it's for [music] anyone who turns in. the kidnappers. >> You lead us to Sherry and we give you. more cash than you can spend. >> These videos this guy was putting out.

when I watched them, I was a little. shocked because it went from cooperate. with us, we don't care to now we're. taking the money off the table and we're. coming after you. >> I wanted to make it so tempting that the. own mother would have turned him in. >> About 3 weeks after Sherri disappeared, on the morning of Thanksgiving before. the sun has even come up, this trucker. calls 911. >> 911 emergency, what are you reporting? >> There's a lady on the side of the road.

and needing help. >> Can I talk to her? >> Please. Please. >> Oh my god. This is unbelievable. >> It's now been [music] more than 2 weeks. since Sherri disappeared on November. 2nd. [music] There's no leads, and.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. >> Thanksgiving morning, there is a. tradition here of a big race called the. Turkey Trot. And so, Keith had asked. that balloons be released that day in. honor of Sherri, in honor of the the. search [music] for her. >> You know, we're all looking for you, and. here's just a symbol, here's home. And I really [music] like that. >> Happy Thanksgiving. It's going to be a. cold morning. >> You've got the Turkey Trot in Redding, bundle up. >> If you're up just getting your turkey. ready, want to wish you a happy.

Thanksgiving. >> In the pre-dawn hours of November. [music] 24th, which was Thanksgiving. morning, 150 miles south of Redding in. Yolo County, a driver spots a woman in. distress on the side of the highway. >> [music]. >> A truck driver actually pulled over with. his big rig and cuz she was standing. trying [music] to wave cars down, and. she was frantic. >> So, this trucker calls 911. >> 911 emergency, what are you reporting? >> Hi, I have an emergency. There [music].

is a lady on the side of the road. needing help. >> Do you know what's wrong with her? >> She is. saying that she got kicked out of her. [music] boyfriend's. >> Okay, just just be safe where you are. What What is she asking for? >> She's chained up. Her vision's [music]. blurry and she needs an ambulance. >> You see her chained up? >> Yes. [music]. Her name is Sherri Papini. >> Can I talk to her? >> Here.

>> Sherri, I need you to listen to me. Listen to me. >> [music]. >> Do you know where you are? >> No. We've been in the car. >> Okay, take a deep breath, sweetie. Who. chained you up? Do you know the person. or were you kidnapped? >> I don't know. >> Okay, listen. Listen, I have help on the. way.

>> [music]. >> Very early in the morning, Thanksgiving. Day, you get a phone call. My cell phone rang. I didn't pick up the. first [music] call. I was just getting. done shaving. I didn't recognize the. number. Immediately after that, [music]. my home phone rang. I pick it up and. it was a [music] very mixed emotion. It. was. my wife. screaming [music] in the background. >> Okay, where is the ambulance? Okay.

>> I'm panicked, >> [music]. >> but I'm happy cuz I I. At this point, this is the first time. I've heard a voice. I know she's alive. And [music] you hear and I hear. screaming. So, then I get the phone and. oh my god, honey. And of course she's. screaming. It's very emotional and I. love you. I love you. I love you. Oh my. god, you're you're [music] here. You're. back. Where are you? And then the phone gets like taken away. from her like super quick. >> I got a call from Keith. Keith was. frantic, yelling into the phone, they. found her. She's been located. Tell me.

CHP had down in Sacramento area had. Sherry. >> Meanwhile, back in Redding, there's. about to be a big balloon release, but. [music] no one knows anything about the. miraculous return of Sherry from. captivity. >> I was supposed to meet Keith at the. Turkey Trot that morning, but Keith. didn't show up, and so that's when I. just went home and was up working on my. roof when I got the call from uh Sheriff.

Bosenko saying Sherry had been found. >> We are very ecstatic to report that. Sherri Papini [music] has been located. >> She was found early Thanksgiving morning. near I-5 in Yolo County. >> Sherri Papini found alive. >> Missing for nearly a month under. mysterious circumstances [music] has. been found alive. >> It was just kind of surreal. Like, what. do you mean we found her? Then my mind kicks [music] in at that. point. Who? What? How? Is she alive? >> The paramedics were the first people to. tell her, "Happy Thanksgiving." [music].

>> It just blew her mind and uh. and then she's like, "Oh, it's. Thanksgiving night." And they said, "No, it's. >> [music]. >> Thanksgiving morning.". >> Sherri is immediately transported by. ambulance to the Woodland Hospital. >> [music]. >> That's where I met her a couple hours. later. First walking into the hospital room, Sherri was pretty hostile, which I. didn't expect. >> Detective Wallace recorded that [music]. first interaction at the hospital with a. very shaken-sounding Sherri.

>> I can't [music] imagine what you've been. through. We don't know how this. happened. I don't know. >> No one can protect me. I just want my. husband. No one found me, and I want my. husband. I want my husband. >> [music]. >> One of the officers kind of braced me. and put his arm around me, and he said, "You know, prepare yourself. Um she's alive, and you you just got to. be happy.". >> And in that recording, you [music] can. hear how emotional Sherri sounds when. she's reunited with Keith.

>> [singing]. >> Sherri Papini is found alive and. >> [music]. >> everybody is ecstatic about her safe. return, but this story is about to. become far more twisted than anybody can. imagine. >> Looking at her injuries at the hospital, I was shocked by them. >> Her kidnappers had [music] branded her.

>> Why would you starve her, torture her, and chop off her hair? >> How could somebody do something like. this? >> That's the mystery. Why? >> But then, everyone has questions. >> There were definitely lots of people. saying, "Oh, this is BS. It's [music]. not true.". >> Things just started to not really add. up. >> Investigators also get DNA hit. >> The DNA was of a male. >> What are the chances? >> That's not what happened, what did. happen, Sherri? >> And Keith Papini today, in an all-new.

interview, he lays out the whole story. for the first time. >> How did you not pick up on it all those. years together? >> The DNA doesn't lie. >> There was always [music] something I. that wasn't right. Every day I was trying to figure out. what happened and and who took her, who. was responsible. >> Because everything you thought was true. wasn't true. >> Why did you lie? >> to that case that made national. headlines, Sherri Papini. >> Sherri Papini. >> Sherri Papini. >> Sherri Papini.

>> I can't remember lifting my leg. I can't. remember. the back [snorts] door open. >> Her ex-husband now speaking out. >> I think that she wanted to plan a. [music] fake kidnapping, but in her. version, I was supposed to find her. >> You seem scared, Sherri. What is. That's not what happened, what did. happen, Sherri? >> Now, how he got caught. and you have a battered, beaten, bruised, burned woman screaming her head. off, chained, boards on the walls. Who.

Who are you going to believe in that. moment? >> We're trying to understand why you did. that, too. >> I mean, she left [music] the phone with. her hair pulled out playing our wedding. song. I mean, she set the clues. Is that. evil or is it just sick? >> [music]. >> A young mother goes missing, vanishes.

The mystery [music] evolved in the town. of Redding, but really the story gripped. an entire [music] nation as police. looked everywhere for Sherri. >> About 3 weeks after Sherri disappeared. [music]. 22 days later, on the morning of. Thanksgiving before the sun has even. come up, >> [music]. >> she's found alive. >> Good morning, America. A Thanksgiving.

miracle. >> Sherri Papini, the Shasta County mother. >> [music]. >> missing for 3 weeks, has been found. alive. >> We are very ecstatic to report that. Sherri Papini has been located. >> She and Keith have been reunited. >> [music]. >> It was Thanksgiving Day. They just said. Sherri's back. Sherri's home. She's been found. We were so happy for. Sherri,

so happy for her family that they got. her back. And then it felt like just a stab in the. heart at the same time. Because [music]. we didn't get our daughter back. It brought all that pain back again. To not get our daughter back. >> [music]. >> It was amazing to see her. >> [music]. >> alive and talking and saying our names, but it was.

it was hard [music] to see her in the. condition that she was in. >> Looking at her injuries at the hospital, I was shocked by them. I've been to. several homicides, I've been to several. domestic violence situations in my. career, but the totality of the injuries. for it to be all over her face, her. arms, her legs, and her chest, and her. back was just alarming. >> In 2016, I spoke to Keith just days.

after Sherri returned. What did you see? >> The bruises were just intense. [music]. Her hair, everybody knows Sherri's. always had very long blonde hair, and uh. you know, they they chopped it off. >> She lost almost 15% of her body weight. in 22 days. That is traumatic [music]. physically. >> It made me sick. that there is. people out [music] there.

that could do something like this. >> Now, the detectives want to talk to. Sherri. They're looking [music] for any. information that she can give them about. the horror that she had just endured, but it didn't really seem like Sherri. wanted to talk to them. >> [music]. >> I don't want to talk to you. >> Tell me. Don't even look at them. I'm not leaving. >> Sherri says she doesn't want to talk to. the police because she's afraid of them. Her kidnappers. >> [music]. >> told her that she was going to be sold.

to someone as part of a sex trafficking. ring, and that one of the people. involved was actually in law. enforcement. [music]. >> He said that they were involved. and. want to talk to them. I don't want to talk to them. >> She really wasn't having any part of. talking. [music]. We made the investigative decision to. keep Keith in the room to hopefully. start getting the information. >> We have to do this, and we have to catch. these people.

Let's just answer everything they want. to know. >> With Keith asking the questions, Sherri. begins opening up about what happened to. her. >> On November 2nd, Sherri said she was on. a run in her neighborhood. She initially saw a black SUV going. north. >> What was the car? What did she look at? >> It was an SUV. It was a dark. colored SUV. >> Dark colored SUV. And there was just one person? >> Two. >> Two? >> Two women. >> Two women? >> They were a woman and a man. They were a.

man. >> A woman and a man? >> They were Hispanic. They spoke Spanish a. lot. >> She said the younger female got out with. a handgun, and Sherri just froze. She was. instructed to get into the vehicle. >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I got in the car. Sorry. >> But first, she places her cell phone and. earbuds on the ground and [music] pulls. out some strands of her hair to place on. top of those items. They begin to drive. She doesn't know where they're going.

>> That first day you were you were must. have been in the car for a while. Is. that Is that right? >> I don't know. I lost time. I lost a lot. of time. >> Okay. Were you able to see anything daylight? >> No. I had something over my face. And wrapped around me. I think she may have tased me. I don't I. don't remember. I don't remember. The. next thing I remember is clothing. clothes are gone. >> Did she know the people she was with? >> Not the people who abducted her. No. [music] Didn't recognize them. No.

Did she ever see them? Their. faces were always covered. >> Aside from all the bruises and abrasions. [music]. and restraints, police were pretty. shocked to find that Sherri actually had. been branded on the upper right portion. of her back. >> And I they said I was branded. That's what they said.

>> The word was Exodus, something from the. Bible. >> She was physically abused quite a bit, but there was no evidence of any type of. sexual abuse. >> Sherri Papini has endured 3 weeks of. beating and abuse and torment. Then. after all that, the kidnappers let her.

go. Sherri says she has no idea why they. suddenly decided to release her. >> I'll never forget hearing Keith [music]. Papini talk about the moment he got to. see his own children reunited with their. mother. 4-year-old Tyler went [music]. first. >> He hugged her and um. my wife obviously very emotional and. started crying [music] and she said, "I'm so happy." And my son of course is. like, "You don't cry when you're happy.".

And. and my [music] wife said, "When you're. this happy, you cry.". >> Then it was 2-year-old Violet's turn. >> She just said, "Mommy." And just took. off running and. she picked her up and then [music] we. all went. uh to the ground for a big family hug. >> [music]. >> What a blessing, right? That she was found safe. But then, everyone has questions. >> Once she returned home, we went from.

worrying about finding a lady. to now finding her abductors. >> The cops took every piece of clothing. that she was wearing, including her. underwear. They bagged it, sealed it, because they were going to test it for. forensic evidence and DNA. >> Authorities are now searching for two. Hispanic women armed with a handgun in. [music] a dark SUV. >> I see a vehicle go past. >> Okay, I'm going to. >> The window was down, but it was.

it was a woman. >> There are some dangerous people out. there inflicting this this type of harm. and torture onto somebody. >> It's like, oh my gosh, do we have a. monster in our midst? >> After 22 really harrowing days, Sherri. [music] Papini, she's home.

Everyone really is overjoyed about this. But. wasn't over yet. Still, these alleged kidnappers are on. the loose. >> Officials say they're looking for two. Hispanic women that they consider to be. armed and dangerous driving a dark SUV. >> Two Hispanic females in a dark-colored. SUV in the state of California is not. much of a tip. >> No, it would be literally a needle in a. haystack. >> The investigation is far from over.

In fact, it has only begun a new. chapter. >> In this video, you see detectives from. the Shasta County Sheriff's Office. interviewing Sherri. >> She was in a ball in a cocoon, essentially, with her knees up to her. chest. >> I feel like sometimes it's easier. with my eyes closed. Is that okay? >> Absolutely. Absolutely. Again, Keith had be present for the. interview. She wouldn't allow us to talk.

to her alone. >> I can't be. alone with people I don't know. >> So, he's here. He's here for the. duration. We're here for you. I'm here. for you. >> Cops go out of their way to reassure. Sherri and make her comfortable, but you. can see she's reluctant to open up to. them. >> That's another thing I'm scared about. I. don't know you guys. I don't know if. you're in my corner. I know my husband. I know my husband's in my corner, but. um.

you know, there was a lot of other. things and I know that you guys know. >> [music]. >> everything. about everything. >> Yeah. >> That's embarrassing. >> Well. And. >> Yucky and that's weird for me. That's. weird for me. >> Now, Sherri provides these very unique. details about the home where she was. held captive. [music]. And all of these specifics can help. investigators narrow the search, especially as they get closer [music] to. potential suspects in the case.

>> She said she was put into a bedroom. Sherri described that bedroom with just. a single bed, no other artifacts inside. the room. >> There was boards on the windows and I. yanked that. out of the wall super quick. And that's. what got her in the room with that. noise. The yanking it out was what made. the noise. Broke my nail, ripped it off. She came in and then it was lights out.

>> What do you mean it was lights out? >> I I can't remember if it was. if I was hit with something, if I was. stuck with something, if it And that's. what I was asking too, if I was tazed, wouldn't I remember? >> Sherri tells investigators that she was. chained [music] to a very specific kind. of pole in the closet. >> There was a chain around my waist. >> Do you know what the what you were fixed. to? Was it a tether? Was it like a rope? >> A metal cable.

>> Was the cable affixed to the wall and. like the cable was loose? >> The cable was affixed to a pole that. went up into the ceiling. >> She describes it as a piece of. all-thread, essentially a long bolt that. has grooves, just like a screw. >> So the cable that you were attached to. that was loose. >> I had slack. >> Slack, yes. >> Yes, yes. I could get to the [music]. bed, so it reached the bed. >> Okay. >> I could obviously get to the closet,

couldn't reach the door. >> What about the bathroom? What's that. look like? >> It just was a standard. Oh, there was a crack [music]. in the tile. It was a light-colored tile. that was speckled. There was a crack in. the tile. It was always hands on the wall. It was. a really high-pressure shower. That very. first shower that I had hurt really bad. because. the burn was fresh and the water was. running over it and there was other open. wounds and it just.

>> She literally lived through. hell. >> [snorts]. >> The things she told me that she did. Acted like she was tucking in her kids. and. she told me one time she took some piece. of cloth. and rolled it up like it was violent, she would rock it. She's so strong.

>> The Shasta County Sheriff offered new. information this afternoon into the. abduction and [music] discovery of a. Redding woman. The Sheriff held a news. conference today describing Sherri. Papini as courageous and revealing. details about her three-week ordeal. >> Suspect number one had long, curly hair. She had a thick accent. She had pierced ears. Suspect number two, had straight black. hair. >> [music]. >> with some gray in color. She had thick eyebrows.

>> I've lived here most of my life. In the Hispanic Latino community, we. were shocked, but it could have. happened. I mean, we had to have an open. mind and think, well, maybe these were. gang affiliates who who did this. horrible thing. >> Sherri told investigators, "They kept. telling me no one's ever going to. believe me. No one's ever going to. believe me. That's because people from. law enforcement are involved in this. ring and you are going to be sold to.

someone.". >> We do have some sex trafficking going on. in our community, unfortunately, like. probably every community. >> But there are others who thought that. certain details of Sherri's story. weren't actually consistent with sex. trafficking. >> If you're going to traffic someone for. monetary purposes, are you going to. starve them, [music]. beat them, especially in the face, chop. off their beautiful long locks? You're. going to do. the opposite. You want them to look like.

someone you can sell, unfortunately. >> Things just started to not really add up. exactly. >> Next, the strange new twists in the case. of Sherri Papini. Rumor is that it could. all be a hoax. >> There were definitely lots of people. saying, "Oh, this is [music] BS. This is. an obvious hoax.". >> Many reports have said that this was a. little bit of a attention-seeking kind. of couple, sort of a reality show ready. to go. >> And there started to be rumors that.

circulated that Sherri had something to. do with her own disappearance. Um did that anger you? >> In my darkest [music]. hours, I obviously explored any possible. outcome. You know, could she have just left? I mean, there's no evidence. And then, as. everybody will tell you, no, she couldn't have. I I knew it in my. heart. >> With mystery still swirling about who's. responsible, this Northern California. community is on edge.

>> Should the community be worried? [music]. >> The community should be concerned. >> The police are mystified. >> It was frustrating. I did not want this. to be [music] a cold case when I retire. someday. >> I assume you're also looking into. Sherri's background. >> Oh, yeah. There's some red flags there. >> She had been talking to a man in the. days [music] before she was abducted, not her husband. >> And 5 months later, there is still a lot.

police don't know. >> There is [music] concern about. inconsistencies in Sherri Papini's case. >> There were no witnesses at the time. We. had very little to go on. Some Some. things just weren't adding up. >> While the police are mystified, the. Papinis go quiet and lay low. >> Sherri and Keith have a dinner with the. Smith family. Remember, those are the. people who still have no answers on.

their own missing daughter, Tara. >> We had a nice dinner just [music] I. guess to talk about the shared. experience kind of and. support them. We didn't ask questions. We didn't probe too much about her. experience, but [music]. it definitely looked like she had been. traumatized. >> She went to use the restroom and. was so. claustrophobic, she said as a result of having been. bound in a closed space, [music]. that she asked.

Keith, her husband, to go in the. restroom with her. We thought, given what she had [music]. experienced, was understandable. >> When lights are off, when doors shut, when she hears certain sounds, I mean, it's it's something that I don't know. how to deal with and and [music] will. need somebody that uh you know can help. her through that from a professional. standpoint. >> Sherri gets that help and it comes from. a government program that gives. financial aid to victims of crime. And. it paid thousands of dollars for therapy.

to treat the anxiety [music] and PTSD. that Sherri claimed she suffered from. that kidnapping. >> Nothing had happened for a while. Then it came another big reveal from the. police. >> This morning the FBI released these new. suspect sketches. >> And it shows two Hispanic women, but. with their faces covered up.

>> It did seem odd that it took Sherri. Papini almost a full year to come up. with enough details for a sketch artist. to work with. >> Law enforcement seemed to react quickly. to this and [music] the manhunt was on. >> The tips came in and tips like I saw two. Hispanic ladies at Walmart that. concerned me. >> Latina women were fearful that they. might look like one of those people in. the sketch.

They wouldn't walk in pairs. They wouldn't drive to work or family. outings in an SUV. >> Around the same time investigators also. get back results from the crime lab. that's been examining Sherri's clothing. and there's a DNA hit. Exactly what they. were hoping for. But the results. are confusing. >> The DNA was of a male and it would be. somewhat incongruent with the. allegations that she made that she was. abducted by two Hispanic women.

>> So that was, you know, perplexing. >> Are you putting it mildly that that. finding a male DNA in this perplexing. >> I I would say so. But, that was an issue. for me and it was an issue for all the. detectives. >> Still, this is a very big deal, a. potential link to the kidnappers. The next step was to enter that [music]. DNA profile into the law enforcement. database to see if this unknown guy is. in the system. >> And we get a return that. it nothing matched with it. And so, now. we're back to the drawing board.

>> I assume you're also looking into. Sherri's background. >> Oh, yeah. >> What did you find? >> There was some little bit of red flags. there. >> Investigators talked to her first. husband because Sherri had been married. before. According to the police, he. said, "Yeah, but you know, she was a. real liar. She made up a lot of. stories." And it wasn't just her. ex-husband waving red flags. Police say. many friends and relatives were less. [music] than supportive. >> Has anyone told you that she had a. history of running away?

>> Another information revealed was that. she had been talking to a man, not her. husband. >> There was some infidelity issues in her. background. that even Keith had told us about. >> Issues with infidelity, issues with. lying, and a history of running away. >> Yep. Oh, yeah. There was definitely some. dishonesty in the background. >> They went back to Sherri time and time. again and found that often her stories. were inconsistent. >> She told different stories about why she.

had been branded. >> She said she was branded by her. kidnappers because she tried to run. away. >> Because her chain rattled, the females. branded her for punishment. >> But, then she also said, "Oh, no, I was. branded by my kidnappers because my. buyer, the person who was going to buy. me, wanted me branded.". >> Is this real? Is this not real? At any. point we could have just said, "This. we're done with this." But, then where's. our due diligence? What if it really did. happen?

>> I was telling my staff, unless we have. some very strong evidence to disprove. her allegations, we need to continue. [music] forward with the investigation. >> It was hard for our investigators to get. past the sheer brutality of her. injuries. >> Her kidnappers had branded her. And I. have to tell you, when I heard that. detail, ooh. Okay. So, maybe some really. horrible things really [music] did. happen to this woman. >> And I do recall that there's no way. these were self-inflicted. We have an.

innate ability not to want to harm. ourselves, [music] because it hurts. >> Years had passed by, and really no new. information had been released to the. public. I honestly thought it would just. fade away. >> And then in 2020, there is a massive. break in this case, and it's all because. of the DNA. >> And I got the phone call that we have a. match. >> Four years after Sherri's kidnapping in. 2020, investigators decide they need to.

focus on finding the source of that male. DNA found on Sherri's clothing. >> Investigators asked permission of the. courts to be able to run that DNA. against all those DNA ancestry type. websites where people contribute their. own DNA, looking for familial DNA. >> They're hoping somebody in this guy's. family had used one of those DNA. websites. If they find a relative, they've got a lead. And it worked.

>> The familial DNA. This man has two sons. One of those sons used to date Sherri. Papini. >> It came back to James Reyes, an. ex-boyfriend. >> And you see James Reyes in a photo with. Sherri from one of her social media. posts. >> It's a massive break in the case. >> So, the FBI field officer and myself. went down to James' residence to do the. confrontation. >> Hello. Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Obviously, he was a little reluctant. He.

was scared. >> We're here regarding Sherri Papini. >> Okay. >> We're just trying to figure out how you. know her, when was the last time you. talked to her. >> Well, me and Sherri dated back in '02, and I haven't talked to her in years. >> There's information that I think you. have about the abduction. >> Yeah, I mean, I just That's all I can. get. I don't I All that I know is what I. read about it. >> We're just trying to understand if she. was truly abducted, is she lying to. everybody and got on 20/20 and is a. liar. >> Are you willing to tell us what happened. yesterday?

>> Can we just sit and talk? >> And it's not until 53 minutes into this. interview that they get Reyes to finally. come clean. >> I didn't kidnap her, you know, I just. friend in need asked me for help, and. that was that. >> What did she say? >> She was trying to get away from her. husband. >> Your husband beat you, your husband. raped you. >> I don't know what her deal was. >> She made up stories, >> [music]. >> you know, Keith was uh abusing her. She. needed to get out of that relationship.

>> As Sergeant Kyle Wallace chats up Reyes, his FBI colleague wanders the apartment. >> Do you mind if I look in that room, the. closet? I'm curious if it's the same as. she described it. >> Ding ding ding ding ding. This apartment, this closet, and this. bathroom. look just like the place that Sherri. said she was held captive. >> All the way down to the all-thread. >> All-thread, that's the screw, the metal. pole that she described. >> pole and the screw. >> She said she was chained to that. >> Chained, yeah.

>> The ex-boyfriend's version of what. happened is radically different from. what Sherri told the authorities. happened. >> So, what you're saying is absolutely. it was just you and her in the car. There were no females involved. >> I don't know any Mexicans or girls. I. mean, this is Yeah, there's no way, man. >> He was duped by her, but he went along. with it. >> I didn't know what the final plan was. Like, were we going to end up together? Was that her plan? >> But it's fair to say you were hoping. maybe you could get together with her. >> Uh no. No, I wasn't there yet. >> She instructed James to get a rental.

car, leave his cell phone at his house, and drive the 9 hours or so to get to. Redding, California to pick her up. >> He gets her down to his apartment, gives. Sherry the bedroom, and he sleeps on the. couch. >> Sherri asked him to put up the plywood. to block out the window. I think James thought it was strange, but he was also just helping a friend. >> Sherri told the world that she had sat. there locked up, chained, miserable, abused. But Reyes says the truth.

was that she voluntarily spent time. alone reading the news about her own. disappearance. >> She starts to act erratically, according. to him. She starts losing a lot of. weight. He says she's not eating much. One day he came home from work and she'd. cut off her hair. >> But then things get far more twisted. [music] Remember all those terrible. injuries covering Sherri's body? >> How did all that stuff come about?

>> did while she was here. I mean, she just. hit herself or something, created a. bruise or something. And I I helped her. I mean, I didn't. punch her or anything. She just was just. like, uh. "Bang a puck off my leg.". So I shot a puck off her leg lightly. >> Reyes also says that Sherri slammed a. hockey stick into her own face. That's how she injured her nose? >> Yeah. >> A weird situation. >> I know that yeah, it's And that's my. life. >> Like, man, >> So now he's describing a situation where.

he has an unhinged woman in his. apartment. She's bleeding, bruised, burned, and scarred. Then she says to. him, "I need you to brand my back.". >> I'm like, "Oh, this probably going to. hurt. I mean, I don't I've never done. this. I can't say they did a good job, you know what I mean?" I just. That's scary. You ever ever burned Have. you ever done that to someone? >> No. >> It was so hot. It was red. >> What did she do for the pain, if. anything? >> She didn't really complain about a lot. of pain.

>> I want to say after this amount of time, law enforcement nothing surprises me, but I was a little taken back. >> And then she was like, "I'm ready to go. back to the kids." She started missing. her babies. I'm like, "Of course.". >> Everybody's got a plan till reality. hits. >> She's like, "I'm ready to go." And I'm. just like, Thanksgiving Day, I'm just like, "Seriously?". >> Then before dawn on that now infamous. Thanksgiving morning, [music]. James Reyes says he dropped Sherri off. in a remote area.

>> It's the greatest story ever of. survival, right? Except it never. happened. It's a lie. It's a hoax. It's. all made up. >> We come up with a plan to do an. interview to confront her with this. [music] evidence. >> And when we come back, for the first. time, 20/20 takes you inside the. interrogation room for that dramatic. [music]. police confrontation. >> I didn't do anything wrong.

>> In August of 2020, investigators. asked Sherri and her husband to come in. >> Thank you for coming. We appreciate you. taking the time to come talk to us. >> Thanks to the cooperation of that. ex-boyfriend, James Reyes, investigators. now believe they have solid proof Sherri. Papini's kidnapping [music]. was a hoax.

>> A plan was developed to confront her. with this and get a reaction. >> Does she have any idea what's about to. happen? >> Oh, no. >> So, were you able to find like where. that house is? >> Yes. >> Mhm. What? Tell me more. >> Tell me more. >> Tell me more. >> We'll get to that. >> Okay. >> She's confronted with pictures that look. exactly like the places she says I mean, she described a crack in the tile in the. bathroom. >> So, this crack is in a different. location than this crack, which is.

>> And they showed her a picture of that. exact crack. And they say, "Does this. look like, you know, the place that you. were held captive?" And she's like, "Yeah, kind of, but not exactly.". >> It's pretty [music] Excuse my language, it's pretty similar. [laughter]. But. it's different. [music]. >> There was even a pole in the closet. where she was staying. >> You remember this time? >> Yes. >> Keith right next to her, jumping up and.

down, saying it's the right one. So, he thinks this is a break in the. case. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> He thinks they found the abductors. >> Yes. We talked to the people who lived there. We Sorry. We we've we found the house. We found. who was involved. >> When the police finally dropped the. bomb, the mood changes and the body. language changes. >> DNA came back, like I said, to a. specific person. Um that specific person told us very.

specific things. So, if. we can talk with Keith or without Keith. here, what would you like? >> Do you want to step out, or do you want. to stay? >> I'd say I want to stay. >> And you can see on that video that the. detectives step out to let them decide. >> You need to stop waiting. for me to do that one. >> And at this point, Sherri tells Keith. that she doesn't want police to catch. that captor, who she claims helped her.

escape. >> I don't want them to find her. They're. not listening to me. >> me why. >> Because she saved my life and she's the. reason why I get to hold my children. every single day. >> The detectives go back in the room and. pretty much lay this [music] this case. out. >> The new DNA that was on you. belongs to James Grace. We talked to. him. We He's been on a polygraph. We talked to everybody around him. We have a rental agreements, phone. rental, car rental agreements.

The reason why you lost so much weight. is because you stopped eating. The reason why the brand is because he. went to the store, bought the branding. tools, and branded you. The reason why your nose was [music]. broke is because of the hockey stick. It's not an abduction. She asked me to. come get her. >> No. >> I rented a car. >> No. >> I drove up and picked her up. He He passed the polygraph test, [music]. Sherri. >> That's not what happened, mom. It didn't.

happen. >> I don't know. No, there's no way it's James. There's. no way. There's no way. >> The DNA doesn't lie. >> And she's like, "No. No. You mean he's. behind it? I just cannot believe that my. ex-boyfriend is behind my kidnapping.". >> [music]. >> Keith is in the room when they're. identifying and talking about the. ex-boyfriend who she. >> [music]. >> was allegedly with that whole time. >> Yeah, and Keith just he gets up and. walks out.

>> The fears of how I was feeling. everything. >> Were you surprised that she stuck to her. guns even after you presented what, you. know, appeared to be this incredibly. compelling evidence? >> Not at all. She had uh spun the story. for so long that um. that she wasn't going to come off of it. >> They tell her that they have proof of. phone contact with her and James, and. that sends her spinning off into a. another direction. >> She was at fault that I was flirting. with other men. That was such a stupid.

thing to do. >> What's your. >> I love my husband. I love my. children. >> That's understandable. Here's the deal though, Sherri. Flirting. with other men not a crime. Lying to me today, yes, a crime. >> She just went into her. cocoon state where she just tried to. control the interview by crying, putting. her head in her hands, not answering. questions. >> So, either either James or. >> I didn't do anything wrong.

>> I know you didn't do anything wrong. Right now, you're not telling the truth, which is doing something wrong. >> And she's begging police to protect the. captor who she claims let her go. >> Did a female point a gun at you, yes or. no? >> I am done speaking to you. Until I talk. to a lawyer, I will not arrest her. I am. with my children because of her. You don't understand. There is no way that James. loves me. >> He did, but I agree with.

>> Did you ever. get an impression from Keith that he. wanted to leave? >> No. I'm the idiot husband that stayed around. the whole time. >> He was so angry. >> so upset, so upset, so emotional, and. just upset. >> Now you're telling me, "Okay, you guys. can go home now." Well, do you think I. want her anywhere around my kids or. around me at all at this point? >> I don't know what the next stages. [music] in this are. That's why. >> It's not together. I get that. I'm in shock.

>> Next, Keith Papini opening up about. discovering his wife's story. That. terrifying abduction in those 22 days in. captivity, all of it made up. >> Sherri Papini, [music] the California. mother who is now admitting her story of. being kidnapped was all a hoax. >> The amount of fear that our family lived. in that was fake is excruciating. >> Keith Papini in this case, if there's a. victim, it's him. He's had to endure a. lot of humiliation.

>> We were brainwashed, gaslit, everything. by Sherri. >> And where does this relationship with. Sherri stand today? >> Has Sherri ever apologized to you or the. children? >> In March of 2022, [music] 6 years after. Sherri Papini vanished while on an. afternoon jog, >> Sherri Papini arrested on charges that. she allegedly lied to federal agents. about being kidnapped. >> News breaks that the mother of two has.

been arrested. Now being accused of. >> [music]. >> making the whole thing up. >> The stunning admission Sherri Papini has. now admitted it was all a hoax. Will. plead guilty to lying to federal agents. about the case. >> There's a plea deal. She's avoiding. trial entirely. As part of this. agreement, she has to admit, which she. did in writing and through her attorney, that she made the whole thing up. >> After Sherri pleads guilty, Keith files. for divorce. He's asking for full. custody. But there's still one final. piece in this crazy puzzle.

>> Do you have anything that you want. that you want to say? Papini, why did you lie? >> At her sentencing, Sherri gets 18 months. in federal prison. She served just 10. months and now she's free. >> [music]. >> I sat down with Keith Papini nearly 8. years after I first met him to hear how. he says he was fooled by Sherri's lies. >> [music]. >> for so long. >> So many people watching this would. wonder, was his spidey sense going off?

Didn't he notice that something was off? >> Of course I felt that way. Um. there was always something that wasn't. right. >> No one found me. and I want my husband, my old husband. >> When you first encountered her in the. hospital, what was your first instinct? >> When I pulled back the curtain and I saw. her and I saw the look in her eyes, I. felt in that moment that she was lying. And it wasn't until.

I went to her to embrace her. and I could just see the amount of. injuries, bruises, burns to her body and. it was a shock to me and I remember. thinking how horrible of me to even. think that she could have done this to. herself. >> I got the world's greatest husband. His. name is Keith. I love you. >> The Papini story is now the subject of a. three-part Hulu docu-series, >> [music]. >> Perfect Wife, The Mysterious.

Disappearance of Sherri Papini. >> Is there one thing that viewers can take. away from this? >> I think the level of dedication that. Sherri put into tricking everyone. >> The hoax didn't just last the 22 days. that she had disappeared. It lasted for. >> years, six years. And that's what people. don't don't realize. It was every single. day. About 3 weeks before she got arrested. and we were in the yard doing some light.

yard work and uh. she was doing some heavy breathing, kind. of exaggerated and [music] I was. kind of calling her out on it. Like, why. why are you acting like you're breathing. that hard and. she immediately. went into the whole, "Well, you don't. know what it's like after the 22 days.". This is five. plus years later. And I just wanted a day where we don't. talk about it. And that is when she just looked right. at me, looked in my soul.

and was like, "I have to live with the. fact that you never found me.". And it it did it crushed me. I mean, she. knows how to get to people and that got. to me and it it just made me feel like I. failed. It just kind of goes to show you that. everything is calculated. >> I mean, essentially you were the target. >> [music]. >> of one of the biggest hoaxes perpetrated. on America in years and certainly one of. the most memorable ones. >> Yeah, I mean.

>> [music]. >> she took advantage of everybody's. kindness. So many people were hurt. >> [music]. >> There's understandably resentment in the. Redding Hispanic community since. Sherri's infamous description of the two. Latina kidnappers. >> When Sherri Papini. was busted, we were overjoyed and. relieved. There There are no dangerous. Hispanic Latina women here. >> And there's the Smith family, still to.

this very day searching for one of their. own daughters. >> It just kind of makes a mockery out of. anyone who's really lost a person. It's kind of a slap in the face. >> So why do you think that she essentially. concocted this hoax, disappeared, beat herself to a pulp for 22 days and. then continued to lie about it for. years? >> I think she wanted me to. be her knight in shining armor and run. to her.

She wanted to. plan. >> [music]. >> a fake kidnapping, but in her version I was supposed to. find her. >> This morning, new exclusive images of. Sherri Papini [music] back in court, now. appearing before a judge as part of her. divorce proceedings. >> Keith and Sherri are now divorced, but. still working out a custody agreement. for their children, Tyler, now 11, and. Violet, now nine. >> She apologized in court, but has Sherri ever apologized to you.

[music] or the children? >> No. Never. She has no remorse. um, that I have ever witnessed or seen. >> We reached out to Sherri Papini for a. comment, but have not heard back. >> Do you think you'll ever be able to get. out from under the shadow of the Sherri. Papini hoax? >> I think it's going to always be there, but, um, no, we we do want to move past. it. Um, I do want to provide my children.

an amazing childhood, but I think [music]. it'll always be there. >> We should point out tonight that as part. of her guilty plea, Sherri Papini was. ordered to pay more than $300,000. in restitution, but the majority of that. money has yet to be paid back. >> For more on this story, you can catch.

the new Hulu series, Perfect Wife: The. Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri. Papini. It's streaming right now. >> Thanks for [music] listening to the 2020. True Crime Vault. We hope you'll join us. Friday nights at 9:00 on ABC for all new. broadcast [music] episodes. See you. then.