Who Is Matthew Muller? Where Is The ‘American Nightmare’ Kidnapper Now?

Who Is Matthew Muller? Where Is The ‘American Nightmare’ Kidnapper Now?

As a gamer and someone who follows true crime stories closely, I find Matthew Muller‘s case to be both intriguing and chilling. The fact that he was once an ordinary guy, raised in a seemingly normal family, adds another layer of complexity to the story.


Matthew Muller, a former U.S. immigration lawyer and Marine veteran, drew widespread attention for his role in the kidnapping incident that unfolded in Vallejo, California. Known as the ‘Gone Girl’ abduction case, this high-profile incident was later showcased in the Netflix documentary series titled “American Nightmare.”

Who Is Matthew Muller? Where Is The ‘American Nightmare’ Kidnapper Now?

Who is Matthew Muller?

Matthew Daniel Muller grew up in the outskirts of Sacramento. His mom, Joyce, worked as an English teacher at a local middle school, while his dad, Monty, held roles as both a school administrator and wrestling coach. He has a younger brother named Kent. Sadly, during Matthew’s last year in high school, his parents went through a divorce due to Monty’s infidelity.

During his childhood, Muller – known for being introverted – encountered bullying because of his weight. Yet, his inner strength and commitment to fairness were notable. He frequently defended those who were mistreated or overlooked.

Back in high school, I was part of the band where I blew the trumpet’s brass notes, and a dedicated member of the computer club. With an academic workload that pushed me to my limits, I managed to keep my GPA above 3.8, impressively so. Fluent in English, Spanish, Russian, and German, I, Muller, proudly graduated from Bella Vista High School in the year 1995.

The Denise Huskin’s Kidnapping

On the morning of March 23, 2015, Matthew Muller broke into Aaron Quinn’s house around dawn, carrying a water gun accessorized with a flashlight and a laser. He subsequently administered drugs to both Quinn and his girlfriend and coworker, Denise Huskins. Muller ordered Huskins to bind Quinn using zip ties.

During that ordeal, I noticed Muller muttering to himself and seemed to be in contact with some other people. He even made two phone calls, asking for $17,000 in ransom payments, but unfortunately, those demands went unmet.

At the gathering, Muller disclosed to the pair that his initial scheme did not involve abducting Huskins but rather Andrea Roberts, Quinn’s former romantic partner.

Who Is Matthew Muller? Where Is The ‘American Nightmare’ Kidnapper Now?

Additionally, he played a recording implying that the burglary was planned by proficient people to settle overdue debts. The content warned of electric shocks as consequence and requested the debtors to disclose Quinn’s financial information and passwords.

Matthew Muller secretly borrowed Quinn’s car and laptop without his consent. To prevent Quinn from seeking assistance, Muller deceived him into believing he was under surveillance. Afterward, Muller hid Huskins in the trunk of Quinn’s stolen car, transferred her to a seized Mustang, and confined her at a cabin in South Lake Tahoe. While held captive, Huskins was subjected to two instances of sexual assault by Muller.

I drove Huskins 400 miles to Huntington Beach, California with Muller on March 25, 2015. We arrived around 10:00 am, and I was dropped off near my family’s house. After getting there, my father and I went to the police station together.

Later on that day, the Vallejo authorities announced that the incident was a fabrication orchestrated by Huskins. The event gained widespread attention, being compared to the gripping thriller “Gone Girl” from Gillian Flynn’s novel and its film adaptation.

In 2018, it came to light that the Vallejo police had evidence linking Matthew Muller to their investigation. This evidence included footage of him purchasing a prepaid phone, a TracFone, at a Target store in Pleasant Hill, California. This phone was later used to contact Quinn during the time Huskins was being detained.

An episode of Netflix’s American Nightmare series highlighted their case. The police department was accused of defamation by them, and they received a settlement of $2.5 million.

Matthew Muller’s Arrest & Conviction

In June 2015, Matthew Muller, who had previously been apprehended for a different crime, came under investigation in relation to Huskins’s case. This connection emerged when Muller carried out a burglary in Dublin, California, approximately 40 miles from Vallejo. During the robbery, Muller was startled by the homeowner and dropped his phone at the scene before fleeing.

Following the tracking of the phone, it was found to be in the possession of Muller’s mother. She then revealed that her son was presently living at a cabin located in South Lake Tahoe. Consequently, Muller was arrested at the cabin on June 8, 2015 for his role in the burglary.

Who Is Matthew Muller? Where Is The ‘American Nightmare’ Kidnapper Now?

At the crime scene in Dublin, Sergeant Carausu of the PD discovered a crucial piece of evidence: blacked-out swim goggles with blonde hairs attached. This finding connected Muller to the Huskins case. Back in 2016, Muller confessed to the kidnapping. He showed remorse and was willing to accept any consequences that came his way.

In the year 2022, Muller received his due punishment for his wrongdoings. He acknowledged guilt in two counts of rape by force and additionally confessed to burglarizing a house, breaking into someone’s property without permission, and illegally imprisoning an individual. As a result, he was sentenced to spend the next 40 years in federal prison.

Matthew Muller is looking at an additional 31 years behind bars in state prison, with his expected release date being in the year 2049 according to Federal Bureau of Prisons’ estimates – this means he’ll serve both sentences concurrently.

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2024-07-20 14:56