Sherri Papini was found in Yolo County, bound with restraints
REDDING, Calif. - At 2 p.m. the Shasta County Sheriff's Office held a press conference to report that Sherri Papini had been located and had been reunited with her family. Sheriff Tom Bosenko took the podium to address press first.
Full video of the press conference at bottom of article
According to officials, Papini is now safe and has been treated at an undisclosed hospital, out of the area, for non-life threatening injuries.
At approximately 4:30 a.m. Thursday, the Shasta County Sheriffs' Office was notified that Sherri had been located. Papini had been released by her captor on a rural road on I-5. Sherri was bound with restraints but was still able to summon help from a passing motorist near the County Road 17 off-ramp.
CHP, the Yolo County Sheriff's Office, and medical personnel responded to assist. Sherri was freed from her restraints and transported to an area hospital for treatment to her injuries.
Her husband, Keith Papini, immediately responded to the hospital as well and is remaining at Sherri's side. CHP allowed Keith to speak with her on the phone before he got to the hospital.
Sherri Papini went missing on Wednesday, November 2 and initially reported by her husband. Sherri had gone on a jog from her home. After not responding to pick up her children from daycare Keith became concerned and began looking for his wife. Her cell phone and earbuds were located approximately 1 mile from her home at the intersection of Old Oregon Trail and Sunrise Drive.
Sheriff Bosenko said that this is still an active investigation and they will keep searching for Sherri's captor or captors.
The Sheriff's Office is warning the public and telling them that they should remain cautious. According to officials, details of this investigation point to this being an isolated incident.
Law enforcement is currently looking for two Hispanic women driving a dark colored SUV. They are armed with a handgun.
Sheriff Bosenko said that from his knowledge no tip has been called in. Either into the ransom reward website or a tip line. He also said that he does not know why she was taken at this time. According to Bosenko, she was injured in the course of events but he would not give details on the kind of injury, how or when she received them.
Sheriff Bosenko could not speak to many parts of the investigation or the timeline of Papini's disappearance at this time, often saying that they could not speak to specific details at this time since it is an active investigation.
When asked about the charges that these captors might face, Bosenko introduced Stephanie Bridgett, Assistant District Attorney for Shasta County. Bridget reiterated how happy they were to have Papini back.
Bridgett said that they could not fully name all charges they would be charged with if found. She did say that no matter where the abductors were found that they would be put on trial in Shasta County since that is where the crime happened. The assistant District Attorney said that they were not strangers to a large, multi-county case, such as this and that they are prepared to handle a case of this scope.
Responding to a question, Sheriff Bosenko said that his department had not given up hope even though Papini had been gone for more than three weeks.
Sheriff Bosenko final question that he answered was in regard to the clothing and look of Papini's captors. He said that they did not have much more information and was going off of what Sherri had told law enforcement.
