Sherri Papini has been seen for the first time since escaping kidnappers who snatched as she was jogging and held her captive for three weeks in November.

The mother-of-two hid beneath a hat and hoodie as she emerged from her home in Mountain Gate, California, on Saturday with her husband, Keith, and their children.

Dressed warmly in a white jacket and oversized track pants, the 'emaciated' frame her husband described after her return was swamped by her clothing.

Severe bruising on her face appeared to have healed but there was no glimpse of her long blonde hair which her husband said had been chopped off by her captors.

Keith Papini kept his gaze to the ground as he followed his wife outside, carrying their young daughter in one arm.

Sherri Papini was seen for the first time on Saturday leaving her home in Redding, California, since being kidnapped and held hostage for three weeks. The 34-year-old emerged with her husband Keith and their two children

The family moved out of the house in December as police hunted Sherri's captors.

Keith said it had been too difficult for her to remain there after her ordeal.

He was initially cleared as a suspect in her disappearance after passing a polygraph test but police have since refused to rule him out again.

Saturday's outing was the first time Sherri has been seen publicly since she was found bound, beaten and gagged on the side of the road by a passing motorist on November 24.

She emerged only to fill up a small red tray with water before returning to the house, The New York Post reported.

Sherri went missing on November 2 when she was abducted during a routine run in the area and held hostage by two armed Hispanic women.

Her husband reported her disappearance when she failed to pick their children up from school. Her cell phone and ear buds were later found on the running track she used.

Papini kept her face hidden beneath a camouflage baseball cap and hoodie and dressed warmly in a white jacket

The 34-year-old vanished on November 2 and was held captive for three weeks before she was found on the side of the road on November 24. Above, she is seen making her way out of the house on Saturday

Police are yet to make any arrests in the case. Keith Papini was initially cleared but police have since refused to rule him out as a suspect

Sherri's hair, which was apparently chopped off by her captors, could not be seen beneath her hat

She was tortured and starved by her captors, whose faces she never saw, before being dumped by the side of the road on Thanksgiving.

Shasta County Sheriff's Office is yet to make any arrests despite questioning Sherri extensively.

They were forced to deny claims they thought her story was a hoax in December after a rogue officer suggested worries it may have been invented.

Papini's husband told how she was found with severe bruising across her face on November 24. It appeared to have healed on Saturday

No definitive motive for the mother's kidnapping has been given or suggested.

While she was still missing, a 'negotiator' working on behalf of a mysterious donor made several offers to those keeping her captive.

At one stage the reward for her return was as much as $100,000 but the ransom was pulled before she was released.

Keith Papini pleaded for privacy after his wife's return and slammed 'disgusting' skeptics who labeled her disappearance a hoax.

He described the black and yellow bruises across her body when she was first brought to hospital and how she had shrunk to 87lbs.

'Her now emaciated body of 87 pounds was covered in multi colored bruises, severe burns, red rashes, and chain markings.

'Her signature long, blonde hair had been chopped off.

'She has been branded and I could feel the rise of her scabs under my fingers. She was thrown from a vehicle with a chain around her waist, attached to her wrists and a bag over her head.

'The same bag she used to flag someone down once she was able to free one of her hands,' he said.