In early November, California mother Shelly Papini mysteriously disappeared after leaving her home in California for her daily jog.
She was not found until Thanksgiving morning, when her 34-year-old mother was allegedly found chained and beaten but alive along a rural road.
As authorities search for her alleged captor, here are five things to know about the case.
She was allegedly kidnapped after going jogging three weeks ago.
Papini, a mother of two young children, was last seen on Nov. 2 at around 2 p.m. as she went for a jog.
Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko said at a news conference that after her husband, Keith, returned home that night, he couldn’t find Papini or their two children, whom Papini usually picks up from daycare. I filed a missing person report. The children were still attending day care and were not injured, authorities said.
After Shelley went missing, an emotional Keith told PEOPLE, “I just want her back and I want her to come back safely.”
“Take her home,” he said.
“Please bring her back. The sooner the better.”
She was found along a country road early on Thanksgiving morning.
Bosenko said at a news conference last Thursday that Papini was found in a restraint at 4:30 a.m. Thanksgiving morning on the side of a rural road in Yolo County, about 150 miles from his home.
Papini was “chained to something” and “severely beaten,” a radio dispatcher told responding officers Thursday, according to an audio clip obtained by The Sacramento Bee.
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After the discovery, Bosenko said, “I am very happy to report that Shelly Papini was found and reunited with her husband and family on this Thanksgiving Day.”
She is safe and is being treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, it added.
The community supported Papini’s family and distributed flyers to help in the search for her. Image: Twitter
Bosenko said Papini was able to call for help from a passing motorist, who alerted police.
Alison Sutton wrote on Facebook that she saw Papini along the road and called police. “I knew you needed help,” Sutton wrote.
Police are still searching for the suspect
Police are searching for two armed Hispanic women driving a dark-colored SUV, Bosenko said at a news conference.
“There is no further explanation regarding the SUV or the Hispanic woman. That is information directly from Mr. Papini,” he added.
“These Hispanic women are considered armed and dangerous, and at least carry handguns.”
Her family is overjoyed to have her back
Papini’s sister, Sheila Kester, told PEOPLE:
“It felt like a global effort just because people posted about it on Facebook and it was on the news,” Koester said, adding, “It was a great Thanksgiving.” .
Kester declined to elaborate on her sister’s condition or what happened during the 22 days she was missing.
“Right now she is reuniting with her family,” she said. “They’re taking their time.”
Authorities say there is “no reason not to believe” her account.
Since Papini’s abduction and discovery, online commenters have expressed doubts about the veracity of the events, with some saying her abduction was a hoax.
But police believe Papini’s account.
“There is no reason not to believe Shelly Papini’s story at this point,” Bosenko told ABC News US.
“She was assaulted and sustained injuries, but received medical treatment.”
Bosenko told the network that law enforcement authorities are looking into Papini’s past marriages, divorces and online activities.
Investigators have issued 20 warrants seeking data from surveillance cameras and cell phone towers, ABC News reported.
Camera footage taken from locations in Yolo County and the city of Redding includes homes, businesses, churches, motels, and traffic cameras.