The Sherri Papini saga, a story that gripped and then infuriated the nation, returns to the headlines this Friday with an exclusive preview on ABC’s “20/20.” Remember the headlines? Redding, California, 2016: a young mother vanishes while jogging, only to reappear weeks later with a harrowing tale of abduction by two Hispanic women. The story quickly unraveled, revealing a hoax that landed Papini in prison. Now, she’s ready to talk.
“20/20” will air a special preview of the upcoming Discovery ID documentary “Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie.” The real draw? A brand-new interview with Papini herself, where she presents a fresh take on the events surrounding the hoax. In addition to revisiting the details of the hoax, Papini will reflect on her time behind bars and give us a look into her life today.
ABC News’ Chief National Correspondent Matt Gutman reports on this twisted tale, providing context and examining the lasting impact of Papini’s deception on her family, her community, and the public’s perception of missing person cases. The two-hour special will examine the details of Papini’s disappearance on Wednesday, November 2, 2016, her reappearance on Thanksgiving Day, and the events that led to her guilty plea and imprisonment for lying to federal authorities.
Catch the “20/20” special preview on Friday, May 23rd, from 9:01-11:00 p.m. EDT on ABC. It will also be available to stream on Hulu the following day.
