Sherri Papini Alleges Her Sister and Ex Keith Had an ‘Inappropriate Relationship’
Following her revelations regarding her alleged kidnapping, Sherri Papini introduced new, surprising allegations about a potential romantic connection between her sister and her ex-husband.
Papini, 42, appeared on the Wednesday, June 11 episode of the “Viall Files” podcast to talk about her three-part Investigation Discovery series, Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie.
“I watched it just like everyone else. I didn’t have creative control over the documentary and was not involved, so I saw it at the same time as everyone else,” she noted. “It was intriguing to view the docuseries and hear some inaccuracies presented as well.”
The discussion then veered away from the documentary, focusing on her relationship with ex-husband Keith Papini and her sister, Sheila.
“I don’t communicate with my sister. Our relationship is strained,” Sherri admitted. “No, Sheila and I were never close. We shared a brief closeness. When the abduction saga began and made headlines with Keith getting heavily involved, that’s when she suddenly became part of my life.”
Sherri initially vanished in November 2016 while jogging in her California neighborhood, only to resurface 22 days later, claiming she had been beaten and branded by her captors.
As new information emerged post-return, Sherri was arrested in 2022 for orchestrating her own abduction. She later pleaded guilty to a federal judge and was sentenced to 18 months in prison for mail fraud and lying to a federal officer about her kidnapping.
Additionally, Sherri was mandated to pay over $300,000 in restitution for losses incurred by the California Victim Compensation Board, the Social Security Administration, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. She was released from prison in August 2023.
The case garnered renewed interest when Hulu released Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini in June 2024. Sherri’s now ex-husband, Keith, along with several family members and friends, participated in the docuseries.
In the meantime, Sherri used Investigation Discovery’s Caught in the Lie special to reiterate her claims that her ex-boyfriend, James Reyes, was her abductor. Reyes has denied any involvement in her alleged kidnapping hoax.
Discussing how her relationships shifted after her arrest, Sherri made an alarming statement regarding her sister and Keith’s current dynamic.
“She was very engaged in being on camera, just as Keith was. Then she began to develop an inappropriate closeness with Keith. They became very close and are still very close,” Sherri claimed. “Their relationship remains highly inappropriate.”
Sherri raised specific concerns about the romantic nature of her sister’s relationship with Keith.
“I believe there have been many inappropriate interactions between Keith and Sheila that I’ve observed,” she added. “I had this great home video that I hoped would make it into the film, showcasing Keith and Sheila engaging physically, followed by my dad exclaiming, ‘Oh God.’”
Keith hasn’t publicly addressed his personal life since his divorce from Sherri. Both Keith and Sheila participated in Hulu’s The Perfect Wife, where Keith praised Sherri’s sister for her support during the turmoil.
“I think Sheila was a great source of support for me. We’re still close. She suggested that I needed to cut Sherri out because she would continue this behavior,” he stated to TV Insider in June 2024. “She knows I love her. This is my wife. I’ve always been dedicated to her and wanted us to be a family.”
Keith continued: “Sheila recognized that Sherri would just continue manipulating me. Cutting Sherri out initially felt like a huge relief because I no longer had to worry about what she might say next.”
Keep scrolling for Sherri’s most significant revelations:
What Does Sherri Think of Hulu’s ‘The Perfect Wife’ Doc?
“It’s heartbreaking. Watching my children be exploited in that manner is extremely difficult,” Sherri lamented regarding Keith using footage of their kids. “I wasn’t part of it since the documentary was created while I was incarcerated. So, I lacked the opportunity to advocate for my children. It’s excruciating to see both my son and daughter featured so prominently.”
Sherri’s Issues With the Doc
“The filming process involved hours of interviews across a year. While I developed rapport with my director, she was not my friend,” Sherri explained. “She was there to maintain objectivity and uncover the truth. Thus, only fragments of my character emerged during certain moments.”
Sherri noted there were “really awkward” moments in the final edit, stating, “I’ve faced scrutiny that most individuals haven’t. It feels like I’ve received a life sentence. Observing those bits that I couldn’t control is humiliating.”
According to Sherri, “quite a lot of audio from James’ informal interrogation” wasn’t included in the documentary.
“There’s shocking audio that wasn’t used. Hearing law enforcement officers ask him leading questions and him beginning to lie initially is crucial to the case,” she emphasized.
Does Sherri’s Mother Actually Think She Wasn’t Abducted?
In Investigation Discovery’s documentary, Sherri’s mother stated in a confessional that she believed her daughter was seeking an escape from her marriage, implying there was no kidnapping. Sherri stated on the “Viall Files” that context from her mother’s comments was removed.
“My mother attempted to convey something. When you lack control over your audio, it can be edited misleadingly. It doesn’t represent her capacity for understanding and healing,” she asserted. “My mom struggled to articulate her thoughts and attempted to clarify what she believed the circumstances were when she stated, ‘It’s not an abduction.’”
Sherri emphasized that additional context was omitted, adding, “It doesn’t showcase her journey to understanding the truth, which was ultimately lost for dramatic effect.”
Sherri affirmed that her mother supports her version of events.
“My mother unequivocally believes I was held captive and that I was kidnapped. That’s definitely her perspective,” she noted. “While things were confusing at first, we now have a clearer understanding of what transpired, which is not her current stance.”
Who Were the Women Sherri Initially Accused of Kidnapping Her?
In clarifying her side, Sherri asserted that the women she initially implicated in her kidnapping are real—just not the ones who allegedly took her.
“His mother closely resembles the sketch,” she said. “During my captivity, James ensured I was surveilled by individuals he knew, including two family members who lived nearby, one being his mother.”
Sherri remained adamant about the existence of these women.
“These are not fictitious individuals; they are real people,” she insisted. “There’s an uncle and a cousin, and the cousin has a wife. The FBI interviewed her.”
What Was Her Marriage to Keith Really Like?
Reflecting on her marriage with Keith, Sherri accused him of “significant abuse,” a claim he has repeatedly denied.
“I fear my ex-husband more than I fear law enforcement or imprisonment,” she recalled regarding her feelings following her alleged kidnapping. “He was very controlling, often demanding my phone at night to scrutinize it at any time. The restrictions in our household were overwhelming.”
Sherri’s Additional Claims Against Her Sister
In addition to questioning Sheila’s relationship with Keith, Sherri denied any closeness between them.
“My sister exhibits abusive behavior towards our parents, who strive to manage her actions,” Sherri asserted. “Being a child doesn’t grant anyone the right to be harmful.”
She added: “She is incredibly toxic and demonstrates emotional abuse. It’s tragic to witness.”
Sherri on Racist Claims
Sherri has faced public backlash for claiming two Hispanic women kidnapped her, despite it being untrue.
“The intention wasn’t to direct them to his mother, but rather to lead them to James,” she clarified. “There was no racial motivation; it was about reaching James.”
Sherri also addressed a blog post she wrote on a skinhead website that was revisited in Hulu’s The Perfect Wife.
“There are numerous events I barely recall. It’s as if they dissected my entire life,” she stated. “It stemmed from an incident involving a mean girl dynamic. It’s not something I took part in.”
She claimed: “My ex-husband described it as a ‘mean girl thing done to her.’ He witnessed the event, along with other friends from that period.”
How Are Sherri and Keith Coparenting?
In light of Keith’s accusations of her child neglect in Hulu’s The Perfect Wife, Sherri confirmed ongoing custody disputes. Currently, she sees her children only once a month but is fighting for joint custody in court.
“Keith has used my daughter as a tool to make these unfounded allegations. It’s heartbreaking,” Sherri remarked about Keith accusing her of endangering their children. “In my view, it’s borderline child abuse to involve her in such a manner.”
She added: “I believe Keith has many personal challenges, and addressing them would help him become a better father. He certainly has moments of good parenting.”
Would Sherri Ever Marry Again?
“I’m currently overwhelmed with everything that’s happening. My main focus is Tyler and Violet—getting my kids back,” she shared. “I’m open to [the idea of marrying again], absolutely.”
