Sherri Papini is once again at the center of public attention, this time sharing her version of a story that once captured national headlines and led to her criminal conviction. In the trailer for the upcoming documentary Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie, Papini breaks her silence about her infamous 2016 disappearance — and insists she’s been telling the truth all along.
Set to premiere later this month, the documentary marks Papini’s first time speaking publicly about what happened. Despite admitting in court that she fabricated the entire kidnapping, Papini now claims she was, in fact, abducted and subjected to horrifying abuse. In the trailer, she confesses to keeping details from the public but holds firm on her original claim that she was kidnapped and tortured — a stance that directly contradicts what she previously told federal authorities.
A Look Back At Sheri Papini’s Documentary
The preview teases a mix of voices — some defending Papini and others expressing serious doubts. It also hints at a lie-detector test she may have taken during filming. Papini leaves viewers with a provocative question: “Have you ever lied… and has that lie blown up on you?”
Her story first gained national attention in 2016 when she vanished for three weeks before being found on the side of a road, battered and bound. She alleged that two masked Hispanic women had held her captive, chained her, and even branded her with the word “Exodus.” Investigators later uncovered male and female DNA on her — but no initial matches were found.
Everything changed in 2022 when James Reyes, an ex-boyfriend of Papini’s, came forward to say she had been staying with him during the supposed abduction. DNA from Reyes was confirmed on her clothing, and Papini was arrested that March. A month and a half later, she pleaded guilty to making false statements and mail fraud. Though sentenced to 18 months behind bars, she served less than a year.
At her sentencing, Papini admitted the entire kidnapping was a hoax. But based on this new documentary, she appears to be walking back that admission, opening the door for renewed speculation and controversy.Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie airs as a two-night special on ID on May 26 and 27 and will be available to stream on Max. The documentary promises to revisit the bizarre twists of the case — and may raise more questions than it answers.
