Prosecutors have announced new charges against Matthew Muller, the man who gained notoriety for the kidnapping and assault of Denise Huskins in Vallejo, California, a case initially dismissed as a hoax. Muller, 47, is now accused of involvement in two home invasion cases from 2009, nearly 15 years ago.
Authorities allege Muller broke into homes in Palo Alto and Mountain View, targeting women. According to the Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office, he intended to assault the victims. Advances in forensic DNA testing linked Muller to these crimes. His DNA was found on bindings used in one of the incidents, leading to his identification.
The 2009 cases detail Muller breaking into a Mountain View home, attacking a woman, and tying her up. He forced her to consume medication but fled after she convinced him not to harm her. Weeks later, in Palo Alto, he repeated similar actions, tying up another woman and attempting to assault her. Once again, the victim persuaded him to stop, and Muller left after bizarrely offering crime prevention advice. Both cases had remained unsolved for years.
Muller is now facing two felony charges of sexual assault during a home invasion. If convicted, he could receive a life sentence. The District Attorney described Muller’s violent actions as something out of a Hollywood script but emphasized their devastating reality. Law enforcement is determined to ensure Muller can no longer harm anyone.
Muller gained national attention for his role in the 2015 kidnapping of Denise Huskins, a case that became the focus of a Netflix documentary. In that crime, Muller broke into Huskins’ Vallejo home, drugged her and her boyfriend, and abducted her. He kept her captive in a cabin, sexually assaulted her, and eventually released her days later. Initially, authorities doubted the couple’s story, suspecting they had staged the incident. This led to public scrutiny and false accusations against them.
Muller was eventually identified when evidence, including a forgotten cell phone, linked him to similar crimes. He confessed to Huskins’ kidnapping and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Muller later faced additional state charges, including burglary and rape, and received further sentences.
Despite the trauma, Denise Huskins and her partner, Aaron Quinn, have moved forward, focusing on their family and advocacy. The couple married in 2018, wrote a book about their ordeal, and now have two daughters. Muller remains in federal custody.