Ep.16 – Sherri Papini – The Real Life Gone Girl

In 2016, Sherri Papini vanished while jogging near her Northern California home. For 22 days, the country searched, and when she reappeared, bruised and chained, she claimed she’d been abducted by two Hispanic women. But years later, the truth unraveled...the whole thing was staged. In this episode, we walk through the bizarre hoax that fooled the FBI, fueled a media storm, and left a community shaken. We also explore how Sherri’s Gemini Sun, Aquarius Moon, and Taurus Venus shaped her need for attention, emotional detachment, and the carefully constructed version of herself that captured headlines.

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SHOW NOTES:

“Sherri Papini Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Lying to Federal Agents about Being Kidnapped and Defrauding the California Victim Compensation Board.” U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California, 19 Sept. 2022. Department of Justice, https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/sherri-papini-sentenced-18-months-prison-lying-federal-agents-about-being-kidnapped-and. Accessed 17 Aug. 2025.

“Shasta County Woman Arrested for Lying to Federal Agents Regarding Her Kidnapping and Defrauding the California Victim Compensation Board.” U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California, 3 Mar. 2022. Department of Justice, https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/shasta-county-woman-arrested-lying-federal-agents-regarding-kidnapping-and-defrauding. Accessed 17 Aug. 2025.

Thorbecke, Catherine. “911 Call Logs Shed Light on ‘Super Mom’ Sherri Papini’s Past.” ABC News, 30 Mar. 2017, https://abcnews.go.com/US/mother-super-mom-sherri-papini-told-police-daughter/story?id=46477176. Accessed 17 Aug. 2025.

Stanton, Sam. “Officials Silent on Sherri Papini Case as Old Report Surfaces.” The Sacramento Bee, 30 Mar. 2017, https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article141599034. Accessed 17 Aug. 2025.

“California ‘Super Mom’ Found Alive, Bound by Road, Sheriff Says” (CBS/AP aggregation). CBS News, 31 Mar. 2017, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/2003-allegation-of-self-harm-surfaces-against-sherri-papini-mom-in-kidnap-case/. Accessed 17 Aug. 2025.

“California Woman Who Faked Her Kidnapping Still Owes More Than $300,000, and Prosecutors Are Coming for It.” Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-03-27/sherri-papini-who-faked-being-kidnapped-still-owes-300-000-and-prosecutors-are-coming-for-it. Accessed 17 Aug. 2025.

“Sherri Papini Must Turn Herself In by Nov. 8; Ordered to Pay $309,902 in Restitution.” CBS News Bay Area, 19 Sept. 2022, https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/sherri-papini-facing-prison-time-for-faking-her-kidnapping/. Accessed 17 Aug. 2025.

“The True Story Behind Hulu’s Perfect Wife.” TIME, 18 June 2024, https://time.com/6987460/perfect-wife-sherri-papini-true-story/. Accessed 17 Aug. 2025.

Dodd, Johnny. “Is Kidnap Hoaxer Sherri Papini a Liar—or a Victim?” People, 21 May 2025, https://people.com/all-about-sherri-papini-life-now-11739964. Accessed 17 Aug. 2025.

“Where Is Sherri Papini Now?” People, 3 June 2024, https://people.com/where-is-sherri-papini-now-8657321. Accessed 17 Aug. 2025.

Stelter, Brian. “‘Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini’ Arrives on Hulu.” TV Insider, 20 June 2024, https://www.tvinsider.com/XXXXX. Accessed 17 Aug. 2025.

Stanton, Sam. “Papini’s Attorney at Initial Appearance: Michael E. Borges.” Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2022, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-03-04/sherri-papini-arrested. Accessed 17 Aug. 2025.

“Defense Memo Quotes from William Portanova.” K-LOVE News, 19 Sept. 2022, https://www.klove.com/news/us-and-world/california-woman-awaits-sentencing-in-elaborate-kidnapping-hoax-36278. Accessed 17 Aug. 2025