Sherri Papini, the woman infamous for staging her own kidnapping in 2016, has moved on with a new romantic relationship following her conviction. Her new boyfriend, Shawn Hibdon, is a widowed auto dealership owner and father of two sons.
They were first spotted together in a parking lot in Northern California, where they were reportedly meeting in secrecy.
Sherri, now 41, was convicted in 2022 for faking her kidnapping, which captivated the nation at the time. In November 2016, she disappeared from a jogging trail and later claimed she had been kidnapped by two Hispanic women.
However, an investigation revealed it was a hoax, and Sherri had been staying with her ex-boyfriend, James Reyes, during the supposed “kidnapping.” Reyes later admitted that Sherri had staged her injuries, and he had been complicit in the plan.
After pleading guilty to mail fraud and lying to law enforcement, Sherri was sentenced to 18 months in prison. She served about 10 months before being released in August 2023.
Shortly after, she began her relationship with Hibdon, who reportedly met Sherri before her imprisonment. Hibdon, a businessman, has kept a low profile, but reports indicate he purchased a home for Sherri in Shingletown, California, in early 2024.
Sherri, who shares two children with her ex-husband Keith Papini (who gained custody after their divorce), is currently on supervised release until 2026.
Although Sherri has not publicly acknowledged the details of her relationship with Hibdon, their quiet romance has captured attention, particularly in the wake of the Hulu documentary Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini that revisits her kidnapping hoax.
