Community Celebrates Missing Mom's Return With Welcome Home Party
— -- Members of a tight-knit California community gathered over the weekend to welcome home Sherri Papini, a mother of two whose harrowing alleged kidnapping has captured worldwide attention.
Hundreds of people met at the Redding Civic Auditorium on Saturday dressed in pink, Papini's favorite color, and took a Christmas card photo to send to the family as a gift.
Despite swirling rumors and mixed reactions surrounding the family's ordeal, friends and locals rallied together to send a positive message to the Papinis after the 34-year-old's alleged three-week abduction.
Mayor Missy McArthur thanked the residents of Redding for their help, according to KRCR, a local ABC News affiliate.
"We never lost hope. We kept working. We made it happen. We're so proud of our community, and thank you so much," said McArthur.
Authorities are still hunting for the alleged kidnappers. On the basis of Papini's description of her alleged captors, Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko told ABC News that authorities are searching for two Hispanic female adults armed with a gun and driving a dark SUV.
