Sherri Papini, the California woman infamous for faking her kidnapping in 2016, is once again making headlines—this time for filing a restraining order against Katherine Parrick, a woman who claims her ex-partner left her and their daughter for Papini.
Parrick’s claims: abandonment and intimidation
Parrick has publicly alleged that her ex-partner abandoned her and their daughter to be with Papini. In a GoFundMe campaign, Parrick detailed the emotional and financial hardships she faced following the separation.
Parrick took to Reddit to share her experiences, stating, “I have had NO interaction with Sherri Papini aside from what I wrote here and in the GoFundMe.” She recounted an incident where, while staying at a friend’s house in Shingletown, California, near Redding, her ex sent a text claiming their daughter should be with him and that he “knew where we were staying.”
Shortly after, Parrick says she observed Papini driving slowly by the house, peering at the vehicles. Upon making eye contact with Parrick, Papini reportedly had an “oh s—!” expression and sped away.
Parrick responds to claims she’s harassing Papini
A subsequent Reddit comment suggested Parrick, not Papini, has harassed Papini and Parrick’s ex. Stating in part, what Parrick is posting “isn’t actual fact. Feelings are not facts in a court of law!”
Parrick emphasized, “I have had NO interaction with her aside from what I’ve written AND from seeing her drive by looking for me while my daughter and I were staying at a friend’s house in Shingletown. I believe I started pointing at the car when I realized it was her (doing Phony’s ‘dirty work’).”
Parrick also hinted at more severe allegations, mentioning, “I didn’t even write about THE DIRECT THREATS SHE AND PHONY,” presumably a nickname for Parrick’s ex, “MADE TO MY LIFE during the third week of their ‘dating.’ But maybe I should…”
Sherri Papini’s legal troubles and recent developments
Papini’s notoriety began with her fabricated kidnapping in 2016, where she claimed to have been abducted by two Hispanic women. In reality, she had been staying with an ex-boyfriend during her 22-day disappearance. In 2022, Papini pleaded guilty to mail fraud and making false statements to federal agents, resulting in an 18-month prison sentence, of which she served approximately 11
Following her release, Papini has been involved in a contentious custody battle with her ex-husband, Keith Papini, over their two children. Keith, who was granted full custody after Sherri’s arrest, has expressed concerns about the potential harm to their children from Sherri’s actions and the media attention surrounding them.
In addition to her legal battles, Papini has been ordered to pay over $300,000 in restitution for the costs incurred during the investigation of her fake kidnapping. As of March 2024, federal prosecutors have filed a writ of garnishment against her, seeking to collect the unpaid restitution.
The Parrick restraining order
The restraining order filed by Papini against Parrick has raised eyebrows, especially given Parrick’s claims of minimal interaction with Papini. Parrick asserts that the only direct encounter she had with Papini was the drive-by incident in Shingletown. She believes the restraining order is an attempt to intimidate and silence her.
