33 - The Disappearance of Sherri Papini

June 3

26 mins

Episode Description

In 2016, Sherri Papini vanished while out jogging near her home in Redding, California. Her phone and earbuds were found abandoned on the side of the road, and for 22 days, her family and the nation searched for answers.

Then, on Thanksgiving morning, Sherri reappeared — bruised, restrained, and claiming she had been kidnapped by two armed women.

For years, the public viewed the case as a horrifying abduction and survival story. But behind the scenes, investigators were uncovering inconsistencies that would eventually unravel the entire narrative.

In this episode of Kat Has Questions, we break down:

Sherri’s disappearance and dramatic return
the media frenzy surrounding the case
the DNA evidence that changed everything
the federal investigation and guilty plea
the conflicting claims presented in recent documentaries
and why people still debate what truly happened during those 22 days

Was it a kidnapping? A hoax? Or something far more complicated?

⸻

About the show

Kat Has Questions is a curiosity-driven podcast about real stories that sound unreal — from unsolved crimes and strange history to the quietly weird corners of human behavior.

New episodes every week.

⸻

Support the Show

If you’re enjoying Kat Has Questions, follow the podcast, leave a review, or send in a weird historical mystery you want me to dig into next.

Support the show (Patreon): https://patreon.com/KatHasQuestions?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Support the show & buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/kathasquesw

⸻

Sources & Further Reading

-FBI affidavit and federal court documents related to the Sherri Papini investigation

-CNN coverage of the Sherri Papini case

-ABC News reporting on Sherri Papini

-NBC News reporting on the investigation and guilty plea