Thoughts on Sherri Papini?

[anniemae]

I have not really followed it, but did I read something about her possibly faking a kidnapping in the past, or was that a different case?

 

[smiths02]

It was my understanding that he came forward to do the interview because of all the hateful comments out there.

It still seems odd and like too much information to give out so soon. I can see asking for help finding his wife when it happened, thanking the public when she was found and asking for help finding the suspects. An entire 20/20 interview when the suspects are still out there and the wife is recovering? Weird, someone should have stopped him

 

[erin1715]

I have not really followed it, but did I read something about her possibly faking a kidnapping in the past, or was that a different case?

I just did a search and apparently extended family said she staged her own abduction back in 2008, I think it was. But thats not really a credible source saying "extended family".

 

[Toon crazy]

She was a rep for AT&T in a store I helped manage. She was a nice person every time I spoke to her.

 

[bcla]

Some are comparing this case to one in Vallejo, California, where the police originally claimed that there was a hoax abduction. That one was really odd, where the abductors released the victim after not receiving the requested ransom. One captor even released info to the press taking credit for the crime.

 

[Mizzoufan]

Did I miss who hired the PI? To me he seemed very shady. I'm glad she's home if that's where she wants to be. I'm not 100 sure she didn't run away to begin with. It's very rare from what I know for someone to be kidnapped and just released.

 

[erin1715]

Did I miss who hired the PI? To me he seemed very shady. I'm glad she's home if that's where she wants to be. I'm not 100 sure she didn't run away to begin with. It's very rare from what I know for someone to be kidnapped and just released.

From what I gathered, the PI put out a video of himself on Youtube saying that a private donor had hired him to negotiate with the kidnappers to find Sherri. But someone can correct me if I'm wrong or missed some info about that.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I don't care what hateful comments might be out there.
They don't, and shouldn't, matter.
The only thing that should matter if there is complete innocence is that he be there for his wife.. and NOT JEOPARDISE THE INVISTIGATION THAT COULD BRING JUSTICE TO THE GUILTY.

I am also not sure I believe that he passed the polygraph.
Authorities use 'fake news' in many cases, if it might serve their purposes in convicting the guilty.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

This story gets stranger and stranger. I read today about her past blog post on a racist website and this almost sounds like a retaliation thing.

and then there's the kidnapping prevention expert that got involved. its all strange.

 

[tvguy]

From what I gathered, the PI put out a video of himself on Youtube saying that a private donor had hired him to negotiate with the kidnappers to find Sherri. But someone can correct me if I'm wrong or missed some info about that.

My understanding is that was all done without the knowledge of the family or police, and the police were not happy.

 

[Missy1961]

When I heard about the interview that the husband gave, it made me wonder. The info he gave out is the sort of stuff police hold back. It's almost like he wanted to throw off the investigation.

And polygraphs are unreliable - you can learn how to fake it. That's why they aren't evidence.

 

[pezheadmeg]

Add me to the list of things just don't add up. Kind of relieved I'm not alone.

From the beginning the case has just seemed a little too bizarre. The whole finding her chained on the side of the road thing at 2 am on a Holiday morning. Let alone 2 female Hispanic captors.

I guess only time will tell.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I've been following it, too. I agree, it's a head scratcher. But there are a number of people who are involved who seem to think it's real. I'm not really sure, time will tell.

I wonder about the "branding". I haven't read anywhere what it actually said, but that it was a "message" of some sort. I believe one of the police investigators was quoted as saying he thought it was done as a way of humiliating and exerting power over her (or something to that effect); the same goes for her hair being "chopped off", etc. My question is that if she did it herself, wouldn't they be able to tell that? I'd also think that police would be able to tell forensically if she hurt herself on purpose based on the nature of her "bruises" and injuries. Those were some of the questions swirling around in my head. I also haven't read anything about there being a sexual assault, which you'd imagine there would be with a human traffic case. Interesting "two women" were accused, and not at least one man (for whom there'd presumably be perhaps more DNA evidence).

Then you have the piece about the "white supremacist" background.

One off the wall theory is that her history may have included some white supremacist leanings, and that could have been a motive.

Yes. I read the blog she supposedly wrote. Then I read that someone wrote it pretending to be her. Not sure which is true. It was written under her maiden name. (And I wonder if the events discussed in the blog really happened; can they be verified since it was a public event which would have had lots of witnesses?) She also has an ex-husband who seemed to speak favorably toward her. One thing I think is that some of the terms we're hearing, ie "hispanic", "white supremacist", "Mexico", etc. seem to be phrases that there's a lot of strong emotions about right now, and I can't help but think the timing of this is in and of itself suspect. We also keep hearing the police "haven't ruled out a hoax".

The latest story out is that they left their house because they couldn't stand living there now, not sure they'll ever go back (not sure why because what did her home have to do with it, you'd think that would be a source of comfort; maybe she's afraid, idk), and that they left their dogs there.

Anyway, more questions than there are answers here.

 

[LovesTimone]

There are a lot of behind the scene things that go on in an investigation,( brother was a cop for 20+ years)and that they just don't blurt out all the evidence in a on going investigation, and really thank goodness that they don't.... you need to keep the creeps in the dark on what they know...so an arrest can be made... This could be part of a bigger picture that we the public aren't seeing, So I am just in the let the police do their job category, and wait for the outcome...

Her husband passed the polygraph, I don't know if a lot of you have taken one before but its very intimidating for just a regular person. I do know that there are people that can pass one, but it's not like in the movies... I had to take one in the late 80's for a job, which I passed and got... but oh my it was very intimidating and I was almost sick to my stomach when I was finished...and with tech moving at the speed of light I can bet that this has been updated a lot since I took one.

Its easy to sit back and say I would have done this or that...But who knows... really knows what they would do until it happens... I was working at a chain grocery store while going to school, and at closing the store was robbed, I had a masked man point put a gun in my face and they had my manager face down in the front with a gun at his head and the rest of the crew at gun point.. and you better believe that I gave him every dime in the store... we are were questioned by the police over and over, its very disconcerting when your put through this type of scrutiny.... and again several years later I had another experience, and faced with what most likely what would happen to me... in a instant I decided I was not going down without a fight, I fought back like a wild animal... I fought for my life, and fought with strength I did not know I had, thank goodness I did or most likely I would not be here today... So faced with a horrific and life altering experience, I don't think anyone really knows what they really will do...

With the police, media and the public opinion how do you prepare yourself for something like this, where your every word, every moment, every breath, and every facial expression is going to be judged.

If they are pulling some kind of hoax...shame on them and what about their poor child... If not shame on the people who said what they did or harassed them and again what about the child.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Yes, LovesTimone, thinking about these innocent little children!
I am seeing a headline where the two of them took the kids and left everything behind, maybe to go in to hiding????

And, I am still not convinced that I believe that her husband passed that polygraph with flying colors. (commented on that earlier)

 

[nkereina]

I've heard the authorities say it "looks" like it may be sex trafficking and they got freaked out at the media attention. If they were afraid of the media attention they would have killed her instead of taking the risk of being caught, IMO. Authorities are also upset that the husband has been giving interviews.

This is what I've read, and it sounds plausible to me. From what I've heard, the chains and branding are typical of human traffickers. The area in which Papini lives and was found in is a notorious hotbed for human sex trafficking. She was supposedly kidnapped by two women, who are likely victims themselves (traffickers use other victims to do the dirty work). Typically, teens and young women are kidnapped for this purpose - Papini looks very young, and one theory was that she was mistaken for a teen. But when her age was realized and the news coverage became prominent, it became evident her captors needed to get rid of her.

Several years ago, someone I know through a mutual friend went missing. She was 17 and investigators thought she might be a victim of sex trafficking. I didn't know anything about trafficking at the time, but it's apparently a big industry. Knowing what I know about that scenario, I tend to also believe that's what may have happened to Papini.

 

[kidshop]

Something is weird with this case, but I do believe Sherri was kidnapped. It seems very personal and targeted to me, someone around her knows who and why, IMO. Maybe she had a stalker, maybe her dh did...or were hated about something. Just that they seemed to know very early she was taken and still alive. I'm assumming the police are keeping very quiet about the suspects for a good reason, but it is strange no one seems to be looking for them much.

It is a miracle she was returned alive and I hope she can heal.

 

[Minnesota!]

Personally, I think it was a hoax. He is creepy as all get out. I don't know what to think of her. But between him and the PI guy, they give me chills. Just a gross vibe.

 

[lorimay]

I watched the 20/20 interview. I'm just not sure, the whole thing seems so far fetched, but then what was physically done to her is beyond frightening.
I can't imagine anyone purposely letting this happen to them, she was beaten so badly, branded, her hair cut off, she also lost 15% of her body weight.
I trust the authorities will do their jobs and someday we will get answers.

 

[jdb in AZ]

If it is a hoax, she could have done it without getting permanently branded, and losing all that weight. Maybe breaking her nose was an accident when she was thrown from the car. If she was in on it, she sure went above and beyond to make it look convincing.