California authorities believe Sherri Papini’s abduction story is credible after she was found alive on the side of a road on Thanksgiving, more than three weeks after she disappeared while jogging.
“We currently have no reason to disbelieve Sherri Papini’s story,” Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko told ABC News on Sunday, November 27. “She was assaulted and had injuries which she was treated for.”
Bosenko added that investigators are looking into past incidents with Papini, including her previous marriage, subsequent divorce and online activity.
The mother of two was first reported missing on November 2, when her husband, Keith Papini, came home from work and saw that his wife didn’t pick up their children, ages 2 and 4, from daycare.
Three weeks later, at approximately 4:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving, Sherri was found chained and beaten on the side of a road in Yolo County, California, according to The Sacramento Bee. She was reportedly located when she flagged down a driver after being let out of a dark-colored SUV by two Hispanic women, who are believed to be armed and dangerous.
After Sherri was found, she was treated at a local hospital and later released to her family. “This has been the most amazing Thanksgiving that our family could ever ask for,” sister Sheila Koester told The Sacramento Bee.
In the hours and days since Sherri was located, several social media users said the story sounded like a hoax and questioned why the suspects would abduct someone for weeks and then leave them alive on the side of the road.
During a press conference last week, Bosenko said, “The investigation is far from over. In fact, it has only begun a new chapter.”
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