Sherri Papini’s Polygraph Results Reveal Shocking Lies and Unanswered Questions

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In a new documentary series called “Caught in the Lie,” Sherri Papini, who has been compared to the character from Gone Girl, is finally speaking out. She undergoes a lie detector test, asserting that her previous statements about being abducted were indeed true.

From a legal perspective, it’s clear that Papini was not truthful about the matter. She eventually confessed to fabricating her November 2016 abduction incident. This revelation came after investigators found out that she had been at James Reyes’ residence, contrary to her long-standing assertion that she was taken by two unknown Hispanic women.

In the year 2022, a court sentenced her to serve 18 months in prison and required her to pay $300,000, following criticism for promoting racist stereotypes through her fictional account. However, she faded into anonymity, while Papini takes center stage in ID’s latest four-part documentary.

Instead of suggesting she fabricated the kidnapping for attention, she now maintains that she was genuinely kidnapped and mistreated, not by two imaginary women, but by Reyes.

Is Sherri Papini lying? Polygraph test shows mixed results

In an effort to clarify the truth behind her latest tale, Papini consents to a lie detector test, and the findings are inconclusive but suggestive. One specific query seems to indicate dishonesty: her assertion that she didn’t plan to travel to California with Reyes.

The question was: “Were you intending to go to Southern California with James on November 2, 2016?” Brett Bartlett, the polygraph expert, commented that while you responded ‘no’, your body appears to be indicating something different.

According to Papini’s statement, she admits to having an emotional affair with Reyes because she was dissatisfied in her marriage to Keith Papini, with whom she has two children. In her narrative, she recounts devising a plan with James and leading him on for continued communication.

Bartlett questions, “Were you suggesting that you might relocate there instead?” To this, Papini responds, “Indeed, I gave off strong signals.

1. Have you ever been arrested?
2. Do you have any previous convictions?
3. Are you currently on probation or parole?

  • At any time between Nov 2 and Nov 24 2016, did James tell you that you were free to leave?
  • While at James’ house in 2016, were you free to leave at any time without fear of violence?
  • Did you ask James to brand you?

There’s also a number of questions that come back as unresolved:

  • Did you arrange for James to pick you up while you were on your run on November 2, 2016?
  • Do you remember getting into James’ car on November 2, 2016?
  • On November 2, 2016, did you enter James’ vehicle voluntarily?

Since his initial encounter with law enforcement, Reyes has consistently maintained that Keith Papini was wrongfully accused of being abusive by his wife, Elizabeth Papini.

It’s puzzling how she could have claimed to need his assistance in orchestrating a fake kidnapping, including getting him involved in hurting herself, if at that point he had already successfully passed a lie detector test.

Attorney explains why polygraph tests are “unacceptable”

TopMob had a conversation with attorney Peter M. Liss on the problems associated with lie detector tests, and why their results should not be considered as absolute truth – neither for Reyes nor for Papini. According to him, there’s a specific reason polygraphs are not utilized in California criminal trials.

While certain individuals keep their cool during extremely tense situations, others might exhibit physical reactions to the pressure of a lie detector test, regardless of whether they’re being honest.

Polygraphs don’t have the ability to definitively determine when someone is lying. Instead, they focus on detecting variations in a person’s heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory patterns, and perspiration levels.

Based on different opinions, lie detector tests can range from being 50% to 90% accurate. Even with a 90% accuracy rate, these devices still produce an incorrect result approximately 10% of the time. This level of error is unacceptably high for the legal system handling criminal cases.

According to Liss, they assess factors like blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and skin resistance, yet finding definite physical responses linked to dishonesty can be challenging, as it’s hard to tell if someone is being untruthful based on these measurements alone.

In my role as a criminal defense lawyer, I don’t trust polygraph tests to help my client’s case, as they are often inconsistent and inaccurate,” Liss explained.

The primary purpose behind police using such tests is to encourage a suspect to speak openly in situations where the suspect might think they’ll be discovered if they lie.

In the Sherri Papini case, it’s quite evident that either Sherri or James Reyes have managed to deceive a polygraph. However, without any further proof, we can’t determine who exactly was being dishonest.

Sherri Papini’s mother doesn’t believe her

In the captivating world of Caught in the Lie, I found myself playing a character whose mother was none other than the real-life Loretta Graeff – Papini herself. As I navigated through the game’s narrative, I discovered that even though she fiercely defended her daughter, she remained skeptical about this fresh account of events unfolding between them.

Graeff clarifies, “No, it wasn’t a kidnapping situation. My daughter was deeply distressed with her marriage. She yearned for some form of joy and contentment.

Upon his arrival, as Sherri accompanied him, it wasn’t an act of abduction; rather, it was a longing for a moment of joy amidst the immense difficulty he had been experiencing in life.

In response to queries regarding Reyes’ polygraph findings on the true crime documentary series, Sherri Papini implies that her former partner is a “manifest psychopath.

Nevertheless, former FBI special agent Peter French, who was part of the investigation, contends that Reyes provided a statement which could be verified, making him more trustworthy compared to individuals who have offered multiple inconsistent accounts and whose statements remain unverified.

Speaking honestly often creates a web of facts supporting the tale. On the other hand, fabricating stories can make them difficult to verify or refute; they simply exist in their own realm. It’s challenging to validate the assertions made by Sherri Papini.

Instead of four years ago, she might have explained, “During that period, I was facing some personal issues in my marriage. As a result, certain incidents occurred. However, she did not disclose this then.

Watch Sherri Papini’s “Caught in a Lie” episodes 1-2 right now on Max, and don’t forget to tune in for episodes 3-4 on Tuesday, May 27th from 9-11pm ET/PT, only on Investigation Discovery (ID) and Max.

To stay updated on intriguing true crime stories, delve into the reasons behind Fred West’s need for a designated adult, learn about the latest sentencing developments concerning the Menendez brothers, and discover where Molly Martens currently resides.

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2025-05-28 04:20