Couple says Vallejo PD's apology over "hoax" claim not good enough
(Still frame courtesy ABC News/the Walt Disney Company; Graphic by Solano NewsNet)
The Vallejo Police Department has formally apologized to a local couple who were falsely accused by officers of orchestrating an elaborate kidnapping hoax several years ago.
While investigating allegations of a kidnapping and assault, the Vallejo Police Department accused Denise Huskins and her boyfriend, Aaron Quinn, of falsely claiming to be the victims of a home invasion, robbery, assault and kidnapping.
Detectives eventually learned that Huskins and Quinn were actually victimized by Matthew Muller, a discharged U.S. Marine who suffered from bipolar disorder. Investigators concluded that Muller broke into Quinn’s home, tied up the man, drugged him, then stole his car and kidnapped Huskins.
Huskins was taken to Muller’s home in South Lake Tahoe where he allegedly sexually assaulted her before taking the woman to her parent’s home in Southern California. Quinn eventually went to the Vallejo Police Department to report the break-in, car theft and kidnapping.
Within days, the Vallejo Police Department accused Huskins and Quinn of making up the entire scenario. But an e-mail sent to a San Francisco Chronicle reporter cast serious doubt on the police department’s assertion. Muller was later tracked through his cell phone and arrested for the crimes.
Muller pled guilty in 2016 to various charges associated with the incident. Huskins and Quinn later sued the City of Vallejo; they settled with city officials for $2.5 million.
Last Friday, the couple appeared on the ABC News magazine program “20/20” to talk about their case. The appearance was part of a publicity tour for their new book, “Victim F: From Crime Victims To Suspects To Survivors.” They complained that the Vallejo Police Department had never issued a formal apology to the couple for making up the crime.
In an e-mail sent to television station KGO-TV (Channel 7), Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams affirmed the department intended to apologize after Muller was indicted, but that apology never came.
“What happened to Ms. Huskins and Mr. Quinn is horrific and evil,” Williams said. “As the new Chief of Police, I am committed to making sure survivors are given compassionate service with dignity and respect. Although I was not [the] chief in 2015 when this incident occurred, I would like to extend my deepest apology to Ms. Huskins and Mr. Quinn for how they were treated during this ordeal.”
The couple seemed unfazed by the apology, telling the news station that it only came after they appeared on ABC News ahead of the release of their book.
“They only apologized after major news outlets reached out and [before] our book is released,” Quinn told KGO-TV.
“I think the thing that really matters most is action and showing — not just us but the whole community of Vallejo — that Vallejo Police Department is dedicated to making changes,” Huskins said.