Within the pre-dawn hours of March 23, 2015, Aaron Quinn and his girlfriend Denise Huskins had been asleep in his Vallejo, California, residence, unaware they had been being watched.
Denise Huskins Quinn: … round 3 a.m., we had been awoken to a wierd man saying “This can be a theft. We’re not right here to harm you, keep calm.”
They by no means noticed his face, however, oddly, he was sporting a moist swimsuit. He stated he was a part of a gaggle of individuals there to rob them, however he did all of the speaking. In recalling what occurred to them, Denise and Aaron name him “The Voice.”
The kidnapping of Denise Huskins
Denise Huskins Quinn: My eyes shot open and I noticed flashing white mild on the partitions, and purple laser dots scanning the partitions … “The Voice” … instructed me to tie Aaron up with zip ties, left them on the sting of the mattress …
Aaron Quinn: I am tied up. He makes me hop to my closet. I may hear folks downstairs going by means of the kitchen cupboard. I may hear a drill working.
Denise was ordered to enter the identical closet. There, “The Voice” additionally tied her up, and made them drink a sedative.
Denise Huskins Quinn: … blacked-out swim goggles had been positioned over our eyes and … ultimately, I used to be informed that I used to be gonna be taken for 48 hours and … I used to be gonna be held till Aaron may “full some duties” for my launch.
These duties included going to a financial institution for ransom cash. “The Voice” took Aaron downstairs to the lounge, the place a safety digicam had been mounted to observe him.
Aaron Quinn: “The Voice” tells me that … if I attempt to go to the police, they will kill Denise. So, I may hear him put Denise within the trunk of my automotive … I simply hear Denise say, “OK,” and I am simply hoping that is not gonna be the very last thing I hear from her. …
Aaron says he quickly handed out from the sedative. He woke in a stupor later that morning. “The Voice” had taken Aaron’s laptop computer, however had left his mobile phone, saying they might contact him. Aaron says he wiggled his fingers free from the zip ties however then struggled with whether or not he ought to name for assist.
Tracy Smith: What was that like weighing that call?
Aaron Quinn: … my thought was if I name the police, I do know I am gonna be protected. However then my worry is, uh, am I really killing Denise?
911 OPERATOR: Emergency.
AARON QUINN: My, uh, girlfriend bought kidnapped final night time.
Aaron took the prospect and referred to as 911. The Vallejo Police Division responded. As Aaron informed them what occurred, he says investigators started to query his story.
Aaron Quinn: I do not blame them for being just a little skeptical, however … I gave them permission to look every part and I agreed to go all the way down to the station to offer a press release, trigger my complete aim, which I assumed everybody’s aim, was to search out Denise.
Aaron gave the police his mobile phone and his garments to check for proof. He was given jail clothes to vary into. After which the lead detective, Mathew Mustard, started to query him.
Aaron Quinn: And it is about 40 minutes into our interview, he principally leans again and says … what I am telling him is far-fetched and he would not imagine me.
Vallejo Police Division, courtesy of Denise Huskins Quinn
DET. MATHEW MUSTARD: I do not assume she was kidnapped from your property… I believe one thing unhealthy occurred in your own home…
Not solely did he seem to not imagine Aaron, he appeared to be accusing Aaron of killing Denise.
DET. MATHEW MUSTARD: Denise goes to be discovered … And after I say she’s discovered, she’s lifeless. … They didn’t come into your own home and kidnap her and take her for ransom. That didn’t occur! It did not! No it didn’t!
AARON QUINN: I’ve nothing to confess to … I did not do something … What the f— is occurring?
In the meantime, phrase bought out to the media that Denise was lacking.
Julie Watts is an investigative correspondent for CBS Information California.
Julie Watts: And I believe instantly folks had been captivated. …
Julie Watts: … people assumed from the start that she was lifeless. … And instantly, her boyfriend, Aaron Quinn, was the suspect.
To Aaron, investigators had been so targeted on him, he questioned if anybody was in search of the individuals who had really taken Denise. After being positioned within the trunk of Aaron’s automotive, she was pushed for a bit, transferred to the trunk of one other automotive, and pushed for hours.
Denise Huskins Quinn: … you consider all of the doable issues which might be gonna occur. The place am I gonna be taken? … Am I gonna be tortured? Am I gonna have to resist God is aware of what?
“The Voice” took Denise to a secluded residence the place she was saved blindfolded and sedated. He informed her he would maintain her there till his group obtained the ransom cash. She was out and in of consciousness however remembered him telling her they’d executed this earlier than. He then raped her. The subsequent morning, Denise says she heard somebody come to the home.
CBS Information
Denise Huskins Quinn: I heard his automotive drive off and … began strolling down this alley and switch, and I see the road that I grew up on.
A neighbor referred to as the Huntington Seashore Police, and the information of Denise’s reappearance unfold.
NEWS REPORT: A Bay Space lady reportedly kidnapped for ransom is protected tonight. What precisely occurred to her? That is nonetheless very a lot a thriller.
Though Denise and Aaron hadn’t communicated because the assault, Denise informed the Huntington Seashore officers the identical story Aaron had. However she too started to sense she wasn’t being believed.
Denise Huskins Quinn: And it was, “OK. Yeah, yeah, yeah. However … we have to work out what is going on on with Vallejo.” … And so it simply felt like one thing wasn’t proper.
Apprehensive, Denise employed an legal professional. That night time, as she was making her approach again to Vallejo, the Vallejo Police Division gave a press convention saying they might not substantiate something Aaron had informed them, and that Denise wouldn’t discuss to them.
LT. KENNY PARK | Vallejo P.D. (to reporters): Mr. Quinn and Ms. Huskins has plundered worthwhile assets away from our group …
They basically referred to as the case a hoax. The media got here up with one other label.
Julie Watts: Within the first few days after … the kidnapper launched her, the entire headlines had the phrase “Gone Lady” in it. … relating it to the blockbuster film that had simply come out, I believe the yr earlier than, the place a gorgeous blonde fakes her personal kidnapping. … and it caught.
That very same night time, Denise says her legal professional informed the Vallejo Police Denise had been raped and requested to arrange a sexual assault examination hoping DNA proof may assist determine her attacker. However Denise says Vallejo Police refused to order an examination till she talked to them.
Denise Huskins Quinn: I may hear whoever what was on the telephone say, properly, how do we all know she was raped? She will not even discuss to us. … You realize, simply inform her to not bathe, maintain her garments on, do not wash her fingers, brush her tooth …
Denise says Vallejo Police made her wait till the subsequent morning to return in.
DET. MATHEW MUSTARD (talking to Denise): We’re not right here to evaluate, um, and we’re simply wanting to determine the reality.
They interviewed Denise for six hours earlier than she went to a hospital for the examination.
Denise Huskins Quinn: So, in a approach, it is like, yeah, I needed to — to show to them that I used to be worthy sufficient to have it scheduled.
Tracy Smith: To have — to have the examination.
Denise Huskins Quinn: (nods to affirm)
The preliminary testing led nowhere. After cooperating with the investigators, Denise and Aaron feared they is perhaps charged with mendacity to police. All of the whereas, figuring out the individuals who attacked them had been nonetheless on the market.
Denise Huskins Quinn: … that was I believe essentially the most terrifying factor, figuring out … They are going to do that once more. … we all know that the one approach that we’ll be vindicated and the reality will come out is that if they assault one other household.
One other assault results in an arrest and confessions
In June 2015, practically three months after Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn had been attacked, a house invasion was reported in Dublin, California, about an hour south of Vallejo.
Julie Watts: An intruder got here in. … The spouse referred to as 911 whereas the husband fought again.
The intruder escaped, however within the chaos he left his mobile phone behind. Detectives traced it to a home in South Lake Tahoe.
Julie Watts: In order that they get their investigators collectively they usually present up on the Tahoe cabin.
Dublin Police Companies
Inside was 38-year-old Matthew Muller. He was arrested on the spot for the Dublin assault.
Julie Watts: He’s a Harvard-educated lawyer. He’s previously a Marine. He’s not the kind of particular person that you’d anticipate.
And after they searched the home, they discovered some fascinating proof.
Julie Watts: They discovered Aaron’s laptop computer at Muller’s cabin.
Authorities additionally searched a stolen automotive parked close by.
Julie Watts: Investigators … appeared on the automotive GPS. And so they noticed that it had the GPS level the place the kidnapper had dropped off Denise Huskins.
And at the back of the automotive —
Julie Watts: They discovered goggles, blacked out swim goggles … with a … single strand of blonde hair.
Dublin Police Companies
The hair was later confirmed to be Denise’s. The goggles, the GPS deal with and the laptop computer — all of it was sturdy proof supporting the weird story Denise and Aaron had been telling all alongside.
Julie Watts: The one approach they had been vindicated was not by police work, it was by different folks being harmed.
“The Voice” lastly had a reputation. Matthew Muller could be charged with Denise Huskins’ kidnapping and rape.
Tracy Smith: Did Muller’s arrest make you’re feeling protected?
Denise Huskins Quinn: A bit of safer. …
Aaron Quinn: The arrest made us really feel just a little safer however we nonetheless imagine there’s different folks on the market.
However nobody else was charged. Denise and Aaron steeled themselves to face Muller in court docket.
Tracy Smith: So that you’re getting ready … for him to go to trial. What occurred?
Aaron Quinn: Properly, he ended up taking a plea deal.
Muller finally obtained a sentence of 40 years complete for the Dublin assault and their assault. Denise and Aaron had hoped for a life sentence.
Denise Huskins Quinn: The concept that he’ll be too previous when he will get out to do one thing like this once more … I do not assume that is true.
Round this time Denise and Aaron filed a civil lawsuit in opposition to the Metropolis of Vallejo claiming defamation and emotional misery. They ultimately settled for $2.5 million.
Tracy Smith: Did the Vallejo Police ever vindicate you?
Denise Huskins Quinn: No. …
Aaron Quinn: It was at all times … this case was too unusual to imagine.
The Vallejo Police Division didn’t reply to “48 Hours”‘ request for a remark, however they did subject a press release after the settlement saying, “The Huskins Quinn case was not publicly dealt with with the kind of sensitivity a case of this nature ought to have been dealt with with…” Though their case appeared to be over, Denise and Aaron hoped authorities would proceed to analyze Muller for different crimes and doable accomplices.
Denise Huskins Quinn: And there was nonetheless so many questions that had been left unanswered … an enormous piece of that was, what else was he concerned in? … We simply knew that our case … wasn’t the one one.
Tracy Smith: You knew, however did you’re feeling like anybody was listening to you?
Denise Huskins Quinn: Properly, no. That is the issue.
Denise and Aaron spent years making an attempt to maneuver ahead. They bought married and began a household and ultimately determined it was time to inform their story in their very own phrases.
Denise Huskins Quinn: We are able to … take again management of — of our trauma and perhaps use it for good.
They wrote a e-book and took part within the Netflix collection “American Nightmare,” which was watched by tens of millions of individuals in 2024.
Chief Nick Borges: I used to be hooked as quickly because it began.
A type of folks was Nick Borges… the police chief in Seaside, California.
Chief Nick Borges: I am watching this, simply pondering, I wish to attain out to those folks. I wish to hug her. I wish to hug him and identical to, oh my God, I am so sorry.
Although he wasn’t concerned of their case, Chief Borges reached out to Denise on Instagram to apologize on behalf of all legislation enforcement.
Tracy Smith: If you learn that message, what did you assume?
Denise Huskins Quinn: I believe I bought actually emotional, um, trigger it isn’t – we’re not asking for an entire lot, you realize, like simply to be revered and listened to, um, and handled like now we have worth. … It meant the world to … really feel like we had an ally.
Borges invited Denise and Aaron to Seaside to talk about their experiences with legislation enforcement.
AARON QUINN (at Seaside occasion): I gave them entry to every part, and it wasn’t sufficient as a result of they’d already determined I killed her.
Borges needed to do extra to assist Denise and Aaron get solutions.
Chief Nick Borges: I haven’t got an issue shaking the tree just a little bit and flipping rocks.
He determined to jot down Muller in jail.
Chief Nick Borges: I used to be very sincere with him … I wish to know in case you acted alone or not.
Inside weeks, Muller wrote again.
Chief Nick Borges: Primarily in his first letter again to me he stated he acted alone. …
Tracy Smith: So that you begin this type of writing relationship with Muller.
Chief Nick Borges: Yeah. … He despatched me again a second letter and this one was thick.
Within the letter, Muller confessed to 2 crimes in Santa Clara County in 2009 — six years earlier than Denise and Aaron’s assault.
Julie Watts: One was in Palo Alto, one was in Mountain View … He broke in type of disguised and tried sexual assault.
Again then, Palo Alto Police had recognized Muller as a suspect as a result of he’d been caught prowling within the space, however they did not have sufficient to cost him. Now, he was coming clear.
Chief Nick Borges: They had been full-blown confessions with particular particulars that solely the suspect would know.
Muller additionally indicated there have been much more crimes — however solely teased the main points in his letters.
Vern Pierson: We all know that Muller did some actually terrible issues.
Vern Pierson is the district legal professional of El Dorado County, the place Denise Huskins was held captive. Though he was not concerned with the unique investigation, in 2024, Pierson additionally supplied to assist and needed to talk with Muller immediately. Pierson thought the easiest way to get him to open up extra was to make use of a technique referred to as “science-based interviewing.”
Vern Pierson: One of many hallmarks of science-based interviewing is — is talking to anyone with out revealing any judgment you may need about both what they’re saying or what you consider them as an individual. …
Tracy Smith: It simply strikes me how completely different what you are speaking about is from the way in which that the Vallejo PD … dealt with Aaron and Denise’s case. …
Vern Pierson: Yeah … they handed judgment. … they usually sought to substantiate, affirm, affirm. … And each time he would say, no, that is not what occurred. They’d minimize him off, change the topic, return to, you realize, the idea that they’d.
Pierson was decided to do issues otherwise. He introduced in a highly-trained FBI interviewer who specializes on this method, and their technique would repay.
The confessions of Matthew Muller
In November 2024, D.A. Vern Pierson and the FBI interviewer flew to Arizona to talk with Matthew Muller on the jail the place he was serving his 40-year sentence to see what else he may confess to — and work out his motivations.
Vern Pierson: … he is terribly manipulative and … if he is telling you something … there’s a cause why he is telling you what he is telling you.
With an audio recorder working, Muller claimed he now needed to be upfront about his previous as a result of he’d undergone a spiritual transformation in jail. He shared that previously he’d struggled with insomnia, which led to taking lengthy walks at night time.
MATTHEW MULLER: I began then wanting in home windows — the place it began common curiosity, then went form of sexual.
Muller described a protracted historical past of voyeurism, admitting that whereas at Harvard Legislation College within the early 2000s, he arrange a video digicam in an workplace toilet. Proof video exhibits him doing the identical years later whereas on trip in Hawaii.
Vern Pierson: … he put in a video digicam in a public restroom … so he may take a look at it.
The more room they gave Muller to speak, the extra depravity he revealed. After a number of hours, he started speaking about one more residence invasion on the border of Contra Costa County simply two weeks after he attacked Denise and Aaron.
MATTHEW MULLER: That night time I climbed up onto the veranda, got here in …
Muller described utilizing a ladder to climb right into a household’s home and waking up a mom, father, and their teenage son.
MATTHEW MULLER: … tied them up … telling them that we had been … some type of legal group {that a} relative of theirs owed cash to …
He instructed the mom to go to a financial institution to withdraw a ransom. After she returned with $30,000, Muller threatened that in the event that they ever informed the police, he would come again and hurt them. The household by no means reported it.
Tracy Smith: So, there was no crime that matched this reported again then, at the moment?
Vern Pierson: No … there was nothing.
That wasn’t the one crime Muller stated he’d gotten away with. He recalled one other assault, which he stated was his first, again when he was a young person within the suburbs of Sacramento. Muller stated sooner or later he had walked by some campsites at a state park in close by Folsom and fixated on a younger couple. He returned that night time with a stolen gun.
MATTHEW MULLER: I ordered them out of the tent … I imagine I put them each on their stomachs and simply requested them to place their fingers behind their again.
Muller stated he tied up the couple, then carried the girl away and down a motorcycle path.
MATTHEW MULLER: … took the girl throughout to do one thing unhealthy to her.
Then, he says, he noticed a lightweight close by. He sexually assaulted her, then fled.
MATTHEW MULLER: I principally forgot about it fairly rapidly. … And I simply put it out of my thoughts. I did not — it was prefer it did not occur.
Leaving that interview, Pierson got down to show Muller dedicated these crimes — beginning with the unreported residence invasion.
Vern Pierson: … the interviewer … had him … describe the placement … then we had him draw a diagram kinda roughly confirmed that … we appeared on Google Maps and … we ultimately got here up with a group that very carefully matched the diagram that he had drawn to us.
Pierson questioned if the ladder Muller talked about utilizing may nonetheless be there 9 years later. It was a protracted shot, however his crew requested Contra Costa investigators to look the ravine behind that home.
Vern Pierson: You’ll be able to think about it is like, “hey, this was by no means reported to you, you guys do not know something about it … however we expect there is perhaps this ladder … would you go search for it?” And … a pair hours later I get a textual content message … that they discovered the ladder.
El Dorado County District Lawyer’s Workplace
Tracy Smith: However how outstanding is that?
Vern Pierson: Fairly outstanding. (smiles)
The household who nonetheless lived there confirmed every part. Subsequent, Pierson got down to discover the campsite victims. His crew scoured Folsom and Sacramento County data till lastly, one in every of his staffers discovered a four-page State Parks report of an incident from Aug. 7, 1993. On the time, Muller was simply 16.
Vern Pierson: … we take a look at it, and it’s totally near what he described. I imply just about equivalent. … (studying from report) “Sufferer exited the tent with two sleeping baggage and pillows and as informed by topic to put face down.”
This needed to be it. Pierson notified the Sacramento County District Lawyer’s Workplace, and Legal Investigators Kevin Papineau and Michelle Hendricks took over the investigation.
Tracy Smith (at scene): Again within the day, within the Nineties, did it look just about like this?
Kevin Papineau: Primarily up right here it did…
The campsites are now not there and the unique investigators have died, so Papineau and Hendricks began by retracing Muller’s steps that night time.
Tracy Smith: So he brings her up right here. And once more, she has no thought what is going on — what is going on on.
Michelle Hendricks: Proper.
Kevin Papineau: Yeah. She would not know the place she’s going.
Tracy Smith: My goodness.
Michelle Hendricks: And — and that night time, this place is pitch-black …
Tracy Smith: Yeah. It should be terrifying. Completely terrifying.
Kevin Papineau: Yeah.
From the report, they knew the sufferer’s boyfriend had discovered her on a footbridge alongside the bike path, untied her, they usually had referred to as for assist.
Michelle Hendricks: … a park ranger confirmed up, a Folsom P.D. officer confirmed up and … they took a press release from … them after which they left … The officers left.
Sacramento County District Lawyer’s Workplace
Papineau and Hendricks additionally discovered pictures officers took that night time, which confirmed a gun they believed Muller dropped when he fled. With no different results in observe, they reached out to the victims.
Tracy Smith: How previous had been you in 1993?
“Lynn”: I used to be 19. … in the midst of the night time … we had been woke up to somebody hitting the again of our tent …
“48 Hours” spoke to the feminine sufferer in 2025. She’s requested us to not present her face, and to name her “Lynn.” That is the primary time she’s talking publicly about what occurred to her.
“Lynn”: The one factor I can actually bear in mind is simply praying, praying for this to cease, praying for him to get away, praying that he would not kill me.
CBS Information
“Lynn” says after she and her boyfriend referred to as for assist that night time, it did not really feel just like the officers had been taking her assault severely.
“Lynn”: It very a lot felt like they perhaps did not imagine me or imagine my boyfriend … simply by their line of questioning.
Tracy Smith: Like what?
“Lynn”: Like … with my boyfriend, they requested him, “you imply you did not see the gun? What do you imply you did not see the gun?” … as a substitute of simply listening to us and believing what we had been telling them.
She says she referred to as the parks division for months asking for updates, however nothing ever got here from it.
“Lynn”: In reality, I even stopped telling folks about it as time went on.
“Lynn” and her boyfriend ultimately married and drew energy from one another, however she says it was tough to ever really feel actually protected.
Tracy Smith: Is there a solution to describe the load that you just carried all these years?
“Lynn”: Hmm, it is form of exhausting to explain as a result of … It is simply form of a part of who you at the moment are. … for a few years, I did not go on my own out at night time … even throughout the daytime, I might ensure I might … maintain a watch over my shoulder of who’s round and pay attention to my environment always. … I did not really feel snug sporting sneakers … that I felt like I could not run in, so like flip-flops or sandals … simply in case I must run.
However that started to vary when she first spoke with Papineau and Hendricks.
“Lynn”: I felt this sense of aid … I knew that I used to be being believed. I knew that one thing was getting executed about this, lastly.
And “Lynn” felt extra aid when she discovered her attacker was now behind bars. However she needed him to be held accountable for what he’d executed to her.
“Lynn”: No, you did not get away with this. You did not simply transfer on together with your life and forgot it — that it occurred. You do not get to do this.
A reckoning for Denise and Aaron Quinn
Denise Huskins Quinn: … to study that he was 16 years previous the primary time he attacked a pair … it made loads of sense. … however it’s additionally simply extremely disturbing.
Denise Huskins Quinn and Aaron Quinn had long-suspected Matthew Muller had attacked earlier than, however to study the main points – and have the crimes confirmed by investigators – was nonetheless devastating.
Aaron Quinn: … lots of people have suffered from this man … Somebody breaking in the midst of the night time … tying you up, these … are issues which might be nightmares. …
Denise Huskins Quinn: … the voyeurism, the stalking … I believe it is a approach of invading folks’s lives. … to terrorize.
In late 2024, Matthew Muller was charged with the tried rapes in Santa Clara County — the primary assaults he had confessed to within the letters. He was flown again to California to face these expenses. There, he was additionally charged with attacking the household in Contra Costa. Whereas sitting within the Santa Clara County Jail, Muller wrote one other letter.
Vern Pierson: He despatched a letter to Nick Borges, basically indicating he had extra … info that he needed to offer to Denise and Aaron.
Tracy Smith: … he is making an attempt to … lure Denise and Aaron into coming and speaking to him.
Vern Pierson: One hundred percent. … I learn that letter precisely that approach.
District Lawyer Vern Pierson thinks assembly with Denise – specifically – could have been Muller’s goal for confessing all alongside.
Denise Huskins Quinn: D.A. Pierson was like … he is confessing to sure issues for a cause. They’re all in California. I believe he desires to get again to California … in hopes that he can meet with you.
Regardless that they had been absolutely conscious Muller could have ulterior motives, Denise and Aaron did nonetheless wish to discuss with him. Muller had confirmed and given particulars about different crimes he had dedicated, however nonetheless maintained he acted alone in theirs. Denise and Aaron are adamant they heard different folks throughout their assault.
Denise Huskins Quinn: I felt like perhaps of all folks, he could be extra sincere with us.
However having already spent many hours interviewing Muller, Pierson didn’t need them in a room collectively.
Vern Pierson: I did not assume that was a good suggestion.
They got here up with a compromise. On Feb. 13, 2025, Muller and his legal professional met with Pierson, the FBI interviewer, and Chief Borges on the Santa Clara County Jail. Denise and Aaron had been there too, watching from one other room.
FBI AGENT: Denise, Aaron … are all current in constructing as we speak and observing this stay.
MATTHEW MULLER: OK.
Denise Huskins Quinn: … they let him know early on within the interview … They’re observing they’re … not coming in. … I believe that irritated him. … the FBI interviewer had stated … That dialog was very completely different …
When requested why he needed this assembly, Muller claimed he was there to assist Denise and Aaron … largely.
MATTHEW MULLER: I’ve an obligation, um, to make it doable for them to go to with me, to get a closure on this … it is in a approach that I want closure as properly.
El Dorado County District Lawyer’s Workplace
However when the FBI agent pushed for the reply to Denise and Aaron’s query —
FBI AGENT: … they’re persevering with to endure within the sense that they proceed to imagine that there are different folks …
At first, Muller did not immediately reply and talked in circles.
MATTHEW MULLER: The one different info I may present, and it does return a bit into the non secular matter. So, you realize, if you’re having occasions that appear to be described by the Bible or the Quran or the rest …
Denise Huskins Quinn: … he is simply an extremely irritating human.
Finally, Muller once more denied he’d had accomplices.
MATTHEW MULLER: I suppose the perfect I can do is say, look, each different factor that I’ve executed was a lone actor scenario. And I am simply type of a loner usually.
However Muller did go into element about how he stated he had tricked Denise and Aaron into believing he was working with a gaggle.
Vern Pierson: … he did numerous steps … to make it look as if he … had anyone else with him, there was a number of folks … he informed us that he had used … a— a tool that he may make it sound as if he was … speaking to anyone downstairs and getting a response utilizing a recorder.
MATTHEW MULLER: … there was like a whisper observe or one thing like that. After which I pretended to be whispering to somebody on the similar time.
Tracy Smith: Do you imagine what Muller was saying about “properly, I used to be pretending that there have been different folks within the room.”
Aaron Quinn: I imply, I do not imagine every part Muller says. … I do know what we noticed. We all know what we heard. …
CBS Information
Though Denise and Aaron did not get the solutions they hoped for, they are saying that confronting Muller – even by means of the interviewers – was a type of reckoning.
Aaron Quinn: … for us, it was extra … exhibiting him that we’re not afraid of you. We see you. We see who you might be.
And so they had been decided to see Matthew Muller face justice for all of the crimes their work and persistence had uncovered. In June 2025, he was lastly charged with Lynn’s assault and confronted a life sentence for every of the extra crimes he was now charged with. Denise hoped this may lastly lock him away without end.
Denise Huskins Quinn: I do not imagine if he is ever free, that he may assist himself. … I really feel like he’ll at all times work out a solution to terrorize somebody ultimately.
“We’ve to imagine victims”
By the summer season of 2025, Matthew Muller was convicted of all the costs introduced because of the brand new investigation spurred by Denise and Aaron. At Muller’s sentencing, “Lynn” learn a sufferer impression assertion three a long time within the making.
“Lynn”: I believe for thus a few years, feeling like my voice was silenced … feeling like my voice may very well be heard lastly … felt very empowering … I bought the final phrase. Now, you get to be silenced.
Muller was sentenced to 4 life phrases.
Tracy Smith: How does that really feel? That he is now serving 4 life sentences for 4 crimes that … he may need by no means confessed to had you not written that letter?
Chief Nick Borges: Goosebumps. I’ve them proper now.
“Lynn” says she felt aid figuring out Muller would keep locked up whereas she walked free — lastly in a position to stay with out worry and revel in previous pastimes and new ones.
Tracy Smith: How are you with going open air and tenting now?
“Lynn”: It is – it is simpler now. Um, and one of many ways in which we had been ready to do this was by means of … enjoying disc golf … it gave me one thing to give attention to open air that felt protected once more.
She has additionally linked with Denise.
Denise Huskins Quinn: She really reached out to me on Instagram … (crying) Once I noticed, you realize, “I am Matthew Muller’s first sufferer,” like I — I used to be like, what?
“Lynn”: I needed to say thanks and simply let her know … that 32 years of ready was lastly over due to her persevering with to hunt solutions.
Whereas “Lynn” lastly has solutions, Denise and Aaron nonetheless questioned whether or not Muller acted alone. DA Vern Pierson hoped forensics may show if there was one other assailant. Pierson discovered Vallejo Police had solely executed preliminary testing on Denise’s rape package, so his workplace had it absolutely examined in 2025.
Vern Pierson: Properly, the outcomes are basically inconclusive.
Pierson says the take a look at confirmed a combination of DNA, together with Muller’s, to allow them to’t rule out the chance that Denise may even have been assaulted by another person. However Pierson would not assume so.
Vern Pierson: Primarily based on every part I do know … I do not imagine that there was an confederate. … I believe that was a ruse that … he created … and perpetuated very efficiently.
Chief Borges is not so positive.
Tracy Smith: Do you assume Muller had accomplices?
Chief Nick Borges: I believe it’s totally doable. I — I actually assume it’s totally doable.
However Borges and Pierson each imagine Muller dedicated extra crimes.
Chief Nick Borges: All over the place that man traveled, he was a menace.
And Borges says it is doable Muller went even additional.
Chief Nick Borges: One of many occasions I interviewed him, I requested him if he ever killed anyone, it simply appeared like an applicable query. … he form of informed me that he did not have the guts to do this. …
Tracy Smith: Do you imagine him?
Chief Nick Borges: Not absolutely. I — I do not absolutely imagine him. I imply, at what level do you really cease?
Borges says he hasn’t stopped investigating — in search of different crimes and accomplices.
Chief Nick Borges: If anybody else is concerned, we’re coming for you. Simply belief me. We’ll get you in case you’re concerned.
In the present day Denise and Aaron proceed to talk to legislation enforcement — making an attempt to vary how officers interview victims and suspects.
Chief Nick Borges: Denise has stated … not being believed … was extra traumatic in some ways to her than the precise assaults themselves. If that does not open your eyes in legislation enforcement, one thing’s incorrect with you.
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Borges says that’s the greatest lesson he is discovered from Denise and Aaron.
Chief Nick Borges: We’ve to imagine victims. After they come ahead, now we have to take heed to what they are saying and observe the proof.
Regardless of all they have been by means of, the Quinns say that whereas their case revealed loads of issues, it additionally exhibits the options.
Aaron Quinn: We perceive it is a actually exhausting job. Individuals make errors. … What you are hoping is that folks acknowledge errors, they study from errors after which it adjustments their actions going ahead.
And these unlikely advocates are decided to use their voices for good.
Tracy Smith: I do not assume anybody would blame you if the 2 of you stated, OK, sufficient. We needn’t speak about this anymore. … Why not simply transfer on?
Denise Huskins Quinn: I believe there is a sense of accountability. … the publicity was so damaging to us at first. … And so I really feel like in a approach … having this unusual, distinctive place, it nearly appears irresponsible to not put it to use in a constructive approach that may perhaps … assist others.
Kenny Park left the Vallejo Police Division in 2020. Mathew Mustard retired in 2024. “48 Hours” was unable to succeed in them for a remark.
Produced by Dena Goldstein and Lauren Clark. Greg Fisher is the event producer. Atticus Brady, Chris Crater and Michelle Harris are the editors. Lauren Turner Dunn is the affiliate producer. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the chief story editor. Judy Tygard is the chief producer.
