The husband of a Northern California mother who went missing for three weeks after a reported kidnapping says his wife was covered in black and yellow bruises when she was found last week.
Keith Papini says his wife weighed only 87 pounds and was tossed from a car with a bag over her head.
Sherri Papini was found on the side of a freeway on Thanksgiving after she disappeared while jogging Nov. 2 near her home in Redding, California, about 140 miles north.
Keith Papini told “Good Morning America“ that his 34-year-old wife had a chain around her waist that was attached to her wrists when she was thrown from the car. She freed a hand and flagged down a motorist. Police are looking for two armed women who Sherri Papini says abducted her.
He said he’s grateful to the support his family has received.
“Thank you to the many incredible humans that have never known Sherri that facilitated in sharing our heartbreak across the globe,” he said in the statement, reported ABC. “Sherri has always captured my heart and it is no surprise that she has captured the hearts not only through the country, but throughout the world.”
But, he added, that the “rumors, assumptions, lies, and hate have been both exhausting and disgusting.”
“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,” Keith said. “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.”
Epoch Times contributed to this report
