Papini, who served time in federal prison after pleading guilty to mail fraud and making false statements, says she preferred incarceration over confronting the truth with her then-husband, Keith Papini. “Prison was safer than the consequences I would face if Keith found out I was having an emotional affair,” she said. “I’d rather go to prison than tell him.”
In the docuseries, Papini alleges her marriage to Keith was emotionally abusive and controlling — a claim he firmly denies. She pointed to a post-nuptial agreement that stipulated Keith would receive full custody of their children in the event of any infidelity, emotional or otherwise.
Her upcoming self-published memoir, Sherri Papini Doesn’t Exist, is set for release on June 26. “There are several versions of what happened out there,” she said. “This is mine. My story. My truth. It’s backed by evidence. My heart is in it.”
Papini’s credibility has been heavily scrutinized since her initial claims unraveled. After she reappeared 22 days after vanishing — bruised, emaciated, and with a chain around her waist — authorities discovered male DNA on her clothing. In 2020, forensic genealogy linked that DNA to James Reyes.
Reyes, who has never been charged with any crime, has previously denied kidnapping Papini. According to the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, he fully cooperated with law enforcement, provided a consistent account, and passed a polygraph test.
Despite this, Papini now pleads for him to corroborate her version of events. “I’ve told the truth. I’ve paid the price. I lost everything — my freedom, my children,” she told ABC. “It’s time he told the truth, too. He knows what happened.”
The emotional interview marks a new chapter for Papini, who claims she is finally speaking out because she feels “free.”
“I’m not asking anyone to believe me,” she said. “I just finally have the capacity to speak without fear — without needing to lie.”
Following her indictment in 2022, Keith Papini filed for divorce. The former couple is now locked in a bitter custody battle over their two children. When asked what message she’d send to her ex-husband, Sherri offered this: “You have to love your children more than you hate your ex. Just love them more than your hate for me.”
Her memoir, Sherri Papini Doesn’t Exist, is currently available for pre-order and promises to deliver her full account — raw, emotional, and as controversial as ever.