The story of Denise Huskins' kidnapping was so unbelievable that
police simply did not believe it.
Turns out, every
word might be true.
The FBI
announced on Monday that it had obtained an arrest warrant for Matthew Muller,
38, in the alleged kidnapping of a woman from a home in Vallejo, California.
The woman was
not identified, but the facts of her case mirror what's known about Huskins'
abduction.
On the afternoon
of March 23, a male victim -- believed to be Huskins' boyfriend, Aaron Quinn --
called police to report that his home had been broken into, that he and Huskins
were forcibly drugged and that his car was used to take Huskins to an unknown
location.
She showed up
days later at Huntington Beach, 400 miles away. When police went to talk with
her, she disappeared again.
Vallejo police
said then that they didn't believe Huskins or Quinn.
"We know
that the statement Mr. Quinn provided was such an unbelievable story we
initially had a hard time believing it and, upon further investigation, were
not able to substantiate any of the things he was saying," Vallejo Police
Lt. Kenny Park said at the time.
Denise Huskins'
abduction: Lawyers say boyfriend not lying
Park called the
case a "wild goose chase" that wasted department resources.
But a June home
invasion robbery in Dublin, California, might force police to rethink the case.
Muller was
identified as a suspect in that case too, and authorities have found
similarities between the June invasion and elements of the March kidnapping,
the FBI said.
The agency urged
anyone who believes they are the victim of a similar crime to contact the FBI.
The case is ongoing.
"Today is a
fabulous day. Nearly four months ago, we told you that Denise Huskins' was
right -- that she was not only innocent of perpetrating a hoax, but that she
was a victim of a very serious and violent crime. And today there is
vindication," said Douglas Rappaport, her attorney.
"The
Vallejo Police Department owes an apology to Ms. Huskins and Mr. Quinn,"
he told reporters at a press conference. "The individual or individuals
who committed this offense were at liberty to continue on their crime spree,
and in fact, did."
Both Huskins and
Quinn appeared at the news conference. They held hands and did not speak.
Attempts to
contact Vallejo police Monday for comment on the case were unsuccessful.
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