Sherri Papini’s Disappearance Receives New Scrutiny as “20/20” Offers a Preview of New Discovery ID Documentary

Sherri Papini speaks out for the first time about her infamous abduction hoax in a new documentary – and "20/20" has an exclusive preview.

Tonight’s brand-new episode of ABC’s 20/20 revisits the surprising story of Sherri Papini, offering an exclusive look as she talks about her story for the first time in a new Discovery ID documentary.

What’s Happening:

  • Sherri Papini’s story is a truly bizarre one, as the then 34-year-old mother of two went missing while out on a jog in her Redding, California neighborhood.
  • Following a community search, Sherri was found on a highway about 146 miles away a few weeks later. She initially said two Hispanic women had abducted her, but eventually, she admitted it was untrue and pleaded guilty to lying to a federal officer.
  • Papini is now talking out for the first time in a new Discovery ID documentary, Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie, and this episode of 20/20 has an exclusive first look at the documentary. She offers a new version of what she says transpired, reflects on her time in prison and her life today.
  • With reporting by Chief National Correspondent Matt Gutman, the all-new 20/20 airs on Friday, May 23rd (9:01-11:00 p.m. EDT) on ABC, streaming the next day on Hulu.
  • The disappearance of Sherri Papini was previously the subject of a Hulu docuseries, Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini. Check out Marshal’s review here.

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