Police training led by former kidnapping victim, originally considered unreliable, to assist law enforcement in aiding victims of abduction
In a remarkable turn of events, Denise Huskins, who was once accused of lying about a home invasion and kidnapping, is now collaborating with law enforcement to teach them about "science-based interviewing." This approach, which emphasizes treating people with respect and decency during interviews, aims to allow someone to open up and understand their background.
The collaboration between Huskins and law enforcement is happening after the release of the Netflix docuseries "American Nightmare," which detailed her harrowing ordeal in 2015. Denise Huskins recently spoke out about her ordeal on the true crime podcast "Clues."
Seaside Police Chief Nick Borges has reached out to Huskins and her partner, Aaron Quinn, to learn from their case and improve future investigations. Huskins, who has learned advanced psychological interviewing techniques and trauma-informed approaches, is being invited to speak with officers to discuss changes in interrogation techniques.
Denise Huskins' nightmare occurred on March 23, 2015, when she was kidnapped by Matthew Muller. Muller, a Harvard-educated immigration attorney and Marine veteran, was arrested and pleaded guilty to one count of federal kidnapping in September 2016. He faced state charges for burglary, robbery, kidnapping, and two counts of rape, but was deemed incompetent to stand trial for those charges in 2020.
The Vallejo Police initially suspected the invasion and kidnapping to be a hoax orchestrated by Denise Huskins' then-boyfriend, Aaron Quinn. However, evidence left behind during the June 2015 home invasion led to the tracing of a phone to Muller's stepfather. After months of public scrutiny, Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn sued the Vallejo Police Department and reached a $2.5 million settlement in 2018.
Denise Huskins' experience of meeting officers who want to improve their tactics is described as a blessing. The goal of science-based interviewing is not solely to obtain a confession. Instead, it focuses on building trust and understanding, with someone else observing the conversation and backing it up with facts and evidence.
Misty Carausu, a rookie detective, connected Matthew Muller to another home invasion in June 2015. Denise Huskins' collaboration with law enforcement has led to the perpetrator receiving four new life sentences. Her teachings are expected to bring about significant improvements in the way investigators approach interviews, better supporting both victims and suspects.
