Sherri Papini: Is Redding mom's abduction related to racist blog?
REDDING, Calif. (KTVU and AP) — The Shasta County Sheriff's Department held a news conference on Wednesday with an update on the case of the Redding mom who was missing and was later found.
Over the last two days Sherri Papini, 34, was interviewed at an undisclosed location. "She was cooperative and courageous during the interviews," said Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko.
During the interviews with Papini, she described the sequence of events surrounding this case. She described her assailants as two Hispanic, female adults. She said they concealed their faces and spoke in Spanish most of the time.
Papini described "suspect 1" as the younger suspect. "Suspect 1" had a thick accent, pierced ears, and thin eyebrows, according to Papini.
Papini described "suspect 2" as older, with straight black hair - graying in color, and thick eyebrows.
Papini was not able to provide a detailed description since the suspects covered their faces.
The sheriff confirmed the suspects did brand Papini. He didn't get into details of 'where or what 'was branded for the “integrity of the investigation.”
Papini's husband Keith has released details to the media on this case (see his statement below). Sheriff Bosenko said the details he released may harm the investigation.
Authorities do not have a motive in the case. It's unclear if she was a specific target or if it was a random abduction.
There has been speculation that the abduction may have been in retaliation to a racist blog Papini may have written in 2003. She would have been "20 or 21" at the time, according to Sheriff Bosenko. He said they are investigating her past but it's unclear if there's a link to this case.
This news conference comes after Keith Papini broke his silence Tuesday.
Papini was chained to an object and had been badly beaten when found near an interstate three weeks after she disappeared while jogging, according to a newspaper citing a police-dispatch recording.
Keith Papini released a statement to Good Morning America. He thanked everyone for, "the overwhelming amount of gratitude our entire family has for the thousands of people that have been on this torturous journey with us."
He addressed the fact that some people have questioned the incidents surrounding this case. "...We live in a nation of free speech, accompanied with an era of technology that provides immediate gratification. This is a double edged sword.
I am grateful for this system as it is what spread my wife's face quickly throughout the world, gaining the attention of thousands. The unfortunate side is that some people have been sitting in angering, expectant, positions waiting for the gory details.
Rumors, assumptions, lies, and hate have been both exhausting and disgusting. Those people should be ashamed of their malicious, sub human behavior. We are not going to allow those people to take away our spirit, love, or rejoice in our girl found alive and home where she belongs. I understand people want the story, pictures, proof that this was not some sort of hoax, plan to gain money, or some fabricated race war. I do not see a purpose in addressing each preposterous lie.
Instead, may I give you a glimpse of the mixture of horror and elation that was my experience of reuniting with the love of my life and mother of our children."
Keith Papini added details about the injuries his wife suffered. She was only 87 pounds in the hospital and was covered in bruises, chain markings, severe burns and rashes, according to the statement he released to GMA.
"She was thrown from a vehicle with a chain around her waist, attached to her wrists and a bag over her head. The same bag she used to flag someone down once she was able to free one of her hands. Sherri was taken from us for 22 days, and suffered incredibly through both intense physical agony and severe mental torture."
He added that her long blonde hair had been chopped off. Read the full statement and report from Good Morning America here.