Frightening details are being revealed of the trauma and apparent abduction of California mom Sherri Papini, who was found alive on Thanksgiving after missing for three weeks. Among her injuries, Papini, a 34-year-old mother of two, had a message branded on her, Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko told ABC News.
"I would think that that was some sort of either an exertion of power and control and/or maybe some type of message that the brand contained," he said on ABC News' "Good Morning America." "It is not a symbol, but it was a message."
Her husband, Keith Papini, told "GMA" in an exclusive statement that she endured mental and physical abuse while being held captive for three weeks.
"Her now emaciated body of 87 pounds was covered in multicolored bruises, severe burns, red rashes and chain markings," he said.
Keith Papini also said the bridge of his wife's nose was broken and her hair had been chopped off.
"Obviously, a very sick person who may have wanted to not only to cut it off to change her physical appearance but also as to humiliate them, wear her down," Bosenko said.
Authorities are hunting for the alleged kidnappers, who Sherri Papini said dropped her off 150 miles from her California home on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24. She was able to flag down help, even though she was bound with restraints.
She described them as two Hispanic female adults driving an SUV and armed with a handgun, Bosenko said.
Investigators interviewed Papini for a third time Tuesday. Police hope to get more details about the suspects, he said.
