Sherri Papini: ‘I Only Lied About One Thing’ — Prison Was Easier Than Facing Her Truth

Sherri Papini, the California mom who once captivated the world with her dramatic disappearance and shocking return, is speaking out again.

In a new interview with ABC News’ Juju Chang, she’s doubling down on her version of the truth.

Sherri claims she “only lied about one thing” in her now-infamous 2016 kidnapping hoax — and says prison was easier than facing the fallout from her emotional affair.

'I Only Lied About One Thing'

“To be clear, there was one thing that I lied about. Everything else was accurate and true. I lied about the identity of my captor," Sherri told ABC.

Sherri now claims she wasn’t abducted by two masked Hispanic women — as she originally alleged — but by her ex-boyfriend, James Reyes, who she says helped her hide during her 22-day disappearance.

Prison Was 'Far Safer' Than Telling the Truth

Explaining why she lied, Sherri didn’t mince words:

Prison was far safer than the consequences I would suffer if my ex-husband found out I was having an emotional affair.

The 42-year-old claims she chose incarceration over confessing to her then-husband, Keith Papini, whom she now describes as emotionally abusive — a charge he denies.

The Sherri Papini Hoax, Explained

Sherri vanished in November 2016 while out for a jog near her home in Redding, California.

She resurfaced weeks later, bruised and branded, with a terrifying story of abduction, torture, and survival.

READ MORE: Sherri Papini’s Kidnapping Hoax: How She Lied, Confessed and Is Now Rewriting History

However, after years of investigation, the tale unraveled. In 2022, she admitted it was all fabricated. Sherri pleaded guilty to making false statements and mail fraud and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.

She served approximately 10 months and was released in August 2023. Sherri is now embroiled in a custody battle with Keith over their two children.

James Reyes’ Role

The case broke open when DNA found on Papini’s clothing matched her ex-boyfriend, James Reyes, in August 2020.

He later told the FBI that she had stayed with him voluntarily and orchestrated the entire scheme.

Reyes passed a polygraph test and now reportedly lives a quiet life in Arizona.

Rewriting the Narrative

Whether you believe her latest version of events or not, Sherri remains one of the most bizarre and polarizing figures in modern true crime.

Her story continues to shift, but one thing is clear: she’s determined to rewrite the narrative — one interview, memoir, and headline at a time.