Sherri Papini, who faked own kidnapping, appears in court for child custody hearing

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The Northern California woman who gained national attention in 2016 for staging her own kidnapping was back in court Friday for a child custody hearing.

Sherri Papini is asking a judge to increase her visitation rights.

Her husband has had full custody since 2022 and now she wants more time with her two children.

Papini disappeared in 2016 and reappeared 22 days later claiming she had been kidnapped.

In 2022 investigators revealed it was all a lie. Sherri Papini had been hiding in Southern California with her ex boyfriend.

On Friday, her former husband took the stand in the custody battle.

"She did in fact mutilate her own body, she did in fact burn herself and hit herself with hockey pocks and everything else and once I knew that was the reality. I of course didn't feel safe with the kids," said ex-husband Keith Papini.

MORE: Ex-husband of Sherri Papini says he can't forgive her, speaking out on kidnapping hoax for 1st time

In the court filing, Papini is also asking a judge to prohibit her ex-husband from showing their children the Hulu docuseries "Perfect Wife."

She says it opens "old wounds" and he is simply putting his ego ahead of what's best for their children.

Papini adds she's working to rebuild her relationship with the kids and this derails the progress.

Sherri Papini did not take the stand on Friday but the trial will continue on May 20.

The judge did express concern about a visit Pepini missed with one of her children but her lawyer said she was sick. As it stands now, Sherri Pepini will keep her once a month supervised visit with her children.

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