Sherri Papini’s Hometown Rallies Around Her on Return Home After Abduction

Sherri Papini Abduction Case: PEOPLE Explains

When the news broke that Redding, California, mom Sherri Papini was found safe on Thanksgiving morning after being missing for three weeks, residents exhaled with relief, the city’s mayor tells PEOPLE exclusively.

“Everyone,” says Missy McNulty, “is absolutely relieved she was found safe.”

Papini, 34, vanished while out for a jog on Nov. 2. After three weeks, the mom-of-two was found around 4:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Day on the side of a road — about 150 miles south of her Redding home.

For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android.

• Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.  

From the beginning, the community embraced Sherri’s husband, Keith Papini, and supported the search efforts, McNulty says. On Nov. 15, Keith was first to speak at a city council meeting, urging residents to continue spreading the word about Sherri in the hopes of finding her.

“He was convinced she was out there and we would find her,” McNulty says. “He was a big inspiration for all of us.”

On Thanksgiving Day, hours before the news broke that Papini was found battered and chained but alive, the community gathered at a Turkey Trot race for a somber balloon release to raise awareness of her disappearance, according to the Record Searchlight.

• PEOPLE’s special edition True Crime Stories: Cases that Shocked America is out now.

And once the mayor learned Sherri was safe, she texted the couple and said “Hallelujah.” She also spoke to Sherri on the phone. “She was tearful and thankful,” McNulty says. “Sherri and I were all kind of choked up. It is emotional.”

Saturday, residents will continue their outpouring of support when they converge on the Redding Civic Auditorium lawn in pink — Papini’s favorite color — and create a video and giant picture saying “Sherri Merry Christmas.”

“We are saying glad you are okay,” McNulty says, “and our community cares about you.”