Husband of Sherri Papini, who faked 2016 kidnapping, files for divorce
Shasta County court records show that Keith Papini is seeking the divorce of his wife Sherri Papini, Redding’s mother who now admits to feigning her 2016 abduction and lying to the FBI about what happened.
The dissolution of the marriage documents was filed Wednesday in the Shasta County Superior Court along with Keith Papini’s request for temporary custody of the couple’s two children.
He said in the file that he wants to protect his two children from the “negative impact of his mother’s notoriety.”
The legal grounds for divorce are irreconcilable differences. Keith Papini is represented by Redding’s attorney, Russell Swartz.
The file says Keith and Sherri Papini separated on March 3, which was the day FBI agents arrested her. O the family issued a statement late that night through Utah-based publicist Chris Thomas, expressing his full support for her and criticizing law enforcement for the manner in which her arrest and announcement was carried out.
The statement did not define who the “family” was. Thomas did not respond to a request for clarification, so it is unclear whether Keith Papini was involved in the statement or represented by Thomas.
Sherri Papini lives with a relative in Butte County, according to the file.
Keith Papini, who lives in Mountain Gate, states in the custody application that Sherri Papini has pleaded guilty to federal misconduct and “is under exceptional pressure with national media attention on her case.”
In his statement, Keith Papini says: “This family was introduced to the national news as a result of the well-publicized activities of my wife, Sherri Papini.
“Now that I have discovered the truth, as reflected in the plea agreement I made with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento, I must act decisively to protect my children from the trauma caused by their mother and bring stability and calm to their mother. lives, “he said.
“The trauma inflicted on our children by the unexpected loss of their mother was heartbreaking,” Keith Papini added.
An April 14 Record Searchlight article was cited in court documents to provide background to the court.
The article notes how, after disappearing for 22 days, Sherri Papini was found wandering along Interstate 5 north of Sacramento chained on Thanksgiving Day 2016.
He told law enforcement that the tip of the gun was hijacked by two Hispanic women who blindfolded him, held him captive, cut his hair, and marked him.
During her disappearance, Sherri Papini was staying at the home of an ex-boyfriend in Orange County, according to a sworn statement from a federal court.
In March, she was charged with fraud and lying to the FBI.
Keith Papini said he did not say anything in the pleas that “inflames the situation or attracts media attention.”
Keith Papini goes on to describe being persecuted by local and national media.
“I get a lot of calls from journalists … media personalities, including self-proclaimed experts and many others,” he said.
He said he did not accept or respond to calls “and that he has no plans to do so at this time.”
Pending a May hearing, a judge said Sherri Papini may have phone and video calls with children and that Keith Papini may monitor those calls.
Mike Chapman is an award-winning reporter and photographer for Record Searchlight in Redding, California. Her journalism career spans Yreka and Eureka in Northern California and Bellingham, Washington. Support local journalism by subscribing today.
Husband of Sherri Papini, who faked 2016 kidnapping, files for divorce Source link Husband of Sherri Papini, who faked 2016 kidnapping, files for divorce
