“DNA evidence recovered from PAPINI’s clothing she was wearing when she returned matched Ex-Boyfriend’s DNA. He also admitted that they used prepaid phones to communicate with each other. The match led investigators to Papini’s ex, who reportedly admitted that Papini was with him and wasn’t kidnapped. In 2020, investigators were told there was a potential DNA match in the case after a family member of Papini’s former boyfriend took a home DNA test. Initially, they didn’t get a match after running the samples through the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Shortly after Papini was found, police collected DNA samples from her clothes in an attempt to track down the alleged kidnappers.
The emaciated Papini was “branded,” with her hair chopped shorter, and cuts and bruises all over her body.Īlleged Kidnappers Papini claimed that two Hispanic females kidnapped and physically abused her before pushing her out of their car and leaving her along the Interstate, with a hose tied around her hands and ankles and a metal chain tied around her waist. The following day, Papini emerged on the side of a rural road off of the I-5 freeway in Yolo, with her hands and feet shackled. Gamble reportedly declined to reveal the amount of money but did claim it was substantial, SacBee reports.
It’s unclear how much money was sent but a man named Cameron Gamble said he facilitated the transaction between a man from “out of town” and a mutual friend.
Papini’s Ransom Days before Sherri Papini was found, an alleged “anonymous donor” offered to pay the ransom payment to the so-called kidnappers if they returned Papini by November 23, 2021. Instead, she stayed with an ex-boyfriend, identified as 37-year-old sports shop worker, James Reyes. Papini, however, was never missing, prosecutors allege. Prosecutors said Papini collected more than $30,000 from the California Victims Compensation Board. Prosecutors said they tracked down the rest of the money to see if it was used to help in any way during the search efforts.Īfter paying down credit cards, the couple allegedly divided the rest of the money between their bank accounts for personal use. Prosecutors also allege that on December 6, Keith wrote a $31,818.13 check to himself from the GoFundMe account. The GoFundMe page, which was created by Keith’s friend, was set up while Sherri was missing and was intended to help aid in the search. According to an affidavit, he used the charity money to pay off credit cards and other debts.įederal prosecutors filed court documents claiming both Keith and Sherri Papini used the donations from the “Bring Sherri Home Safe” GoFundMe page for personal expenses. Papini’s husband, Keith, who had access to GoFundMe funds meant to help find his wife, collected over $49,000 in payments. Papini has been in the Sacramento County Jail since Thursday after she was arrested on mail fraud charges and making false statements to law enforcement.Īs CrimeOnline previously reported, Papini is accused of staging her own 2016 kidnapping. Peterson ruled that Papini can be released on a $120,000 bond. Borges said Papini’s food allergies have prevented her from eating most of the jail food. Papini’s attorney, Michael Borges, previously asked the court to release Papini on her own recognizance, citing concerns about the jail conditions and Papini’s restrictive diet. Sherri Papini: ‘Super mom’ Who Allegedly Faked Her Own Kidnapping & Cost Taxpayers Over $230K Gets BondĬalifornia woman Sherri Papini will be able to walk out of jail after posting bail, a federal judge in Sacramento ruled Tuesday.