The captivating true-life story of Denise Huskins and her abduction is unraveled in a documentary, providing details about the case and her personal life. Huskins is a qualified physical therapist who survived a gruesome kidnapping incident that drew worldwide attention in 2015.
A masked intruder broke into her home in Vallejo, California, and kidnapped her, demanding a ransom from her boyfriend, Aaron Quinn. Matthew Muller, the perpetrator, subjected Huskins to 48 hours of physical and sexual abuse before abandoning her in her native city, Huntington Beach, California.
Contrary to expectations, the Vallejo police accused Huskins of orchestrating a sham abduction, drawing inspiration from the film “Gone Girl”. Consequently, Huskins and Quinn found themselves battling to clear their names and seek justice against Muller and the police who defamed them.
Born on February 17, 1987, in Huntington Beach, California, Denise Huskins graduated from Edison High School in 2005 and later went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from California State University, Fullerton, in 2009. She then earned a doctorate in physical therapy from Chapman University in 2012, before relocating to Vallejo, California, in 2014 to work as a physical therapist at Kaiser Permanente.
In 2015, both Huskins and Quinn, who are physical therapists, were victims of a distressing kidnapping incident. They were rudely awoken by an intruder in a scuba suit who made ransom demands. The culprit, Matthew Muller, kidnapped Huskins after tying them up and blindfolding them, threatening Quinn not to involve the police.
Despite Quinn contacting the FBI, the Vallejo police accused him of fabricating a hoax. Meanwhile, Muller held Huskins captive, subjecting her to repeated abuse and threats. When Huskins was released, Muller sent an email claiming a gang’s involvement and apologising for the ordeal, but the police dismissed it.
Denise Huskins is married to Aaron Quinn. They were wedded on April 15, 2018, in Dana Point, California, inviting their lawyers and the detective who helped solve their case to the ceremony. The couple, who battled post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and insomnia, wrote a book, “Victim F: From Crime Victims To Suspects To Survivors”, published in June 2021.
The couple also took legal action against the Vallejo police, alleging civil rights violations, emotional distress, and false statements. They also sought therapy and counselling to heal from their ordeal and rebuild their trust.
They celebrated their love by getting engaged in November 2016 at Disneyland and welcomed their daughter, Olivia Quinn Huskins, on March 25, 2020, exactly five years after Huskins was released by Muller. The couple currently resides in Huntington Beach, California, with their daughter and their dog, Stitch, working as physical therapists and advocates for victims of sexual assault and police misconduct.
Denise Huskins’s net worth is estimated to be around $1 million as of January 2024, earned from her occupation as a physical therapist and book sales. She also received a settlement from the Vallejo police for their defamation of her character. In 2016, Huskins and Quinn sued the Vallejo police, accusing them of violating their civil rights, causing emotional distress, and making false statements about them.
In 2018, the Vallejo police agreed to settle the lawsuit for $2.5 million, issuing a public apology to Huskins and Quinn and acknowledging that they were victims of a violent crime. However, Huskins and Quinn expressed that the monetary settlement could not erase their trauma or restore their reputation, hoping their case would remind the police to treat victims with respect and dignity.
