If you’ve spent any time on the true crime side of the internet, you know the name Sherri Papini. She’s the "super mom" from Redding, California, who went for a jog in 2016 and vanished, only to reappear three weeks later on the side of a highway, bruised, branded, and chained. It was a story that gripped the nation—until the FBI proved it was all a lie.
But once the handcuffs clicked shut and the dust settled on the federal court case, a lot of people were left wondering about the man who stood by her for years. Is Sherri Papini still married?
The short answer is a hard no.
Honestly, the fallout of the Papini marriage was almost as dramatic as the hoax itself. While Sherri was busy spinning tales of "Hispanic women" in a dark van, her husband, Keith Papini, was the face of the search, tearfully pleading for her return on national television. When the truth finally came out that she had actually been hiding out with an ex-boyfriend in Southern California, the marriage didn't just crack—it vaporized.
The Divorce That No One Saw Coming (Except Maybe Keith)
Keith Papini filed for divorce in April 2022. The timing wasn't accidental. He filed just two days after Sherri officially signed a plea deal admitting that she had faked the whole thing. Imagine being Keith for a second. You spent six years defending your wife, fighting off skeptics, and raising your kids in the shadow of a tragedy, only to find out it was a performance.
The legal split wasn't just about "irreconcilable differences," though that’s what the paperwork said. It was about survival for Keith and their two children.
By May 2023, the marriage was officially dissolved. They are legally divorced. Keith was granted sole legal and physical custody of their son and daughter. If you’re looking for a silver lining here, it’s that the kids have stayed with the parent who wasn't busy staging a federal crime.
Where things stand now
As of early 2026, the situation remains incredibly tense. Here is the current reality of their "relationship":
- Communication: Keith has gone on record saying he basically doesn't speak to Sherri. Anything they have to say goes through lawyers or court-mandated mediation.
- Visitation: Sherri doesn't have regular "weekends with mom" like a typical divorce. She is currently restricted to supervised visits, often just one hour a month, overseen by a professional agency.
- The Kids: Keith is fiercely protective. He’s stated in court documents that he wants to shield them from the "negative impact of their mother’s notoriety."
- Money: This is the messy part. Sherri was ordered to pay over $300,000 in restitution. Because they were married during the hoax, the financial tangle in the divorce was a nightmare, involving everything from their house to a $3,200 Best Buy spree Sherri reportedly went on.
The "New" Sherri and Her Post-Marriage Life
You might think someone who went to prison for faking a kidnapping would keep a low profile. You’d be wrong. Sherri Papini has stayed in the headlines, but not because of Keith.
After being released from federal prison in late 2023 (she served about 10 months of her 18-month sentence), she didn't just head back to a quiet life. She’s been involved in a string of new relationships that have ended up in court.
There was a high-profile mess with a man in Shingletown where she was reportedly facing eviction after a relationship went south. Then there’s her current boyfriend—or at least the most recent one—whose ex-partner publicly accused Sherri of "shattering" her family. It seems Sherri’s life post-marriage is just as chaotic as the one she led during it.
Does she still claim she was kidnapped?
This is the wildest part. Even though she pleaded guilty and the marriage is over, Sherri has recently started changing her tune again. In various docuseries, like the 2024/2025 projects on Hulu and ID, she’s leaned back into the idea that she was taken, though now she blames the ex-boyfriend she was staying with instead of the fictional "Hispanic women."
Keith, meanwhile, isn't buying it. He participated in the Perfect Wife documentary to basically say: "I'm done. I'm moving on." He's rebuilt a life in Northern California, focused entirely on being a single dad.
Is there any chance of a reunion?
None. Zero.
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Keith’s actions since 2022 show a man who has completely closed that chapter of his life. He isn't just "separated"—he is legally and emotionally detached. He’s been very vocal about how the hoax traumatized him personally. He truly believed she was gone, and the betrayal of finding out she was actually eating organic yogurt and watching TV at an ex's house while he was sobbing on 20/20 isn't something you just "get over."
Summary of the Current Status
If you’re tracking the Papini saga, here’s the bottom line for 2026:
- Marital Status: Divorced (Finalized May 2023).
- Custody: Keith has 100% full custody; Sherri has very limited supervised visits.
- Living Situation: They live completely separate lives in different parts of Northern California.
- Legal Battles: They are still occasionally in court over custody tweaks and financial restitution issues.
The "Super Mom" and "Devoted Husband" brand is dead. What’s left is a father trying to give his kids a normal life and a woman who continues to struggle with the truth of her own past.
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If you're following this case for the legal precedents or just the human drama, the most important thing to watch now isn't the marriage—it's the custody hearings. Keith is fighting to keep the status quo, while Sherri is reportedly pushing for more time with the children. Given her history of fabrication, the courts have remained extremely cautious.
To stay updated on the legal side of things, keep an eye on the Shasta County court filings. That's where the real story is happening now, far away from the cameras and the "Gone Girl" headlines.