Outrageous claims made after it’s revealed ‘expert’ who offered £80k for her release had made ‘abduction videos’ with a lookalike
Cameron Gamble made a video which conspiracy theorists claim has “similarities” to Sherri Papini's three-week kidnap ordeal
OUTLANDISH claims have emerged about how the “kidnap expert” who helped search for Sherri Papini made a creepy video with a "lookalike" chained in a dungeon.
Cameron Gamble hit the headlines when he offered the abducted jogger's captors $100,000 (£80,000) from an "anonymous donor” for her release.
But now conspiracy theorists have suggested a promotional video he made has “similarities” to the California's mum's alleged three-week torture and kidnap ordeal.
The self-styled “kidnap and ransom consultant” released the chilling video in 2012 to promote his Project TAKEN, which trains people to “prevent and escape hostile situations.”
It features an attractive blonde woman who was seen bound to a chair and trapped in a dungeon after her apparent abduction by an unhinged stranger.
The wild conspiracy theory emerged one week after Sherri was found beaten, bruised and starved on the side of Interstate 5 in Yolo County after being released by her alleged kidnappers.
Mr Gamble’s video opens with the “Sherri-lookalike” - Jessica - walking through what looks like the halls of college with friends.
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She passes a Project TAKEN poster stating that 50,000 women are stalked or kidnapped each year. “You never need us ... until you do,” it reads.
The camera cuts to a dark dungeon-like room that resembles a cluttered garage or shipping container, showing Jessica bound to the chair.
A close-up is shown of her bloodied, handcuffed wrists and her legs, which are bound to the chair by thick rope or chains.
As the man, who has entered the dungeon silently, runs a greasy glove down the young woman’s back she implores: “Why are you doing this to me?”
“Because you ignored me,” he whispers before leaning closer and screaming: “You shouldn’t ignore people Jessica!”
Narrating, Mr Gamble explains how she could have avoided her predicament by following his advice.
The video shows Mr Gamble sitting across from the bound girl in dungeon.
The former US soldier turned missionary tells her: “We can help you. We can fix this, but you must do exactly as I say. Are you ready?”
“Yes,” Jessica replies.
The most outrageous conspiracy theory regarding the case suggests that Sherri may have been the victim of an audacious publicity stunt.
Sun Online has approached Mr Gamble for comment.
Detectives are struggling to crack the case, following lines of inquiry ranging from sex trafficking to an obsessed stalker.
Social and print media have been awash with claims that the incident was an elaborate hoax but police say they have no reason to doubt the Papinis’ story.
Sherri has given a limited description of her captors — two Hispanic women driving a dark-coloured SUV and armed with a handgun.
Mr Gamble was a member of Keith Papini’s “A-team” of private investigators, ex-cops and lawyers who tried to track down the 34-year-old after she vanished on November 2.
He made a video offering Sherri's alleged captors US$50,000 (£39,000) from an “anonymous donor” in exchange for her safe return.
When there was no response, the “anonymous donor” doubled that sum to $100,000, making another video which was broadcast locally and shared more than 100,000 times on Facebook.
This was ignored and Mr Gamble informed the kidnappers the deadline for taking the money had now expired and the “offer was no longer on the table”.
“The world has been looking for Sherri Papini and now the world is looking for you,” he warned.
Less than 48 hours later - after 22 days in captivity - a chained, beaten and emaciated Ms Papini turned up on a remote stretch of road in Yolo County.