Attorney Misconduct, Crime

Harvard Law Graduate Arrested In Strange Kidnapping Scheme

In a bizarre case of kidnapping that police initially called a hoax, a Harvard Law grad is charged with the crime.

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Listen, Gone Girl was a great book, but the plot was a little far-fetched. So when a Vallejo, California woman and her boyfriend were the victims of a home invasion, and she was kidnapped for two days before being returned to her family’s home, you’d think they’d get the benefit of the doubt.

But that isn’t what happened to Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn. The couple claimed that on March 23, they woke up to a bright light being shone in their eyes. They were drugged, bound, and their eyes were covered. Then Huskins was kidnapped and ransom was demanded, during which time she alleges she was made to perform sexual acts on camera.

When Huskins was returned, right before the ransom was due, the police decided — within a few hours — the whole thing was a hoax, and held a press conference to that effect.

Well, in a double surprise twist ending, yesterday federal authorities (note, not the local police that had called Huskins a big ol’ liar) charged a man they say was responsible for the attacks on Huskins and Quinn. And vindication? Yeah, that feels good. As the New York Daily News reports:

On Monday Huskins publicly appeared beside her attorney at a press conference where they again asked for an apology.

“Nearly four months ago, we told you that Denise Huskins was right,” her attorney said. “Today, there is vindication.”

“When they told the Vallejo Police Department, ‘this was real,’ within hours the police department said that it was a hoax and she owed an apology to the public. Well today, the Vallejo Police Department owes an apology to Ms. Huskins and Mr. Quinn,” he said.

So how’d authorities find their man? Matthew Muller was already in police custody, for a second home invasion, and physical evidence of the ordeal Huskins and Quinn experienced was uncovered.

As for the accused? He’s one of our own, a Harvard Law-educated attorney, who has had a… less-than-stellar legal career. In fact, he was disbarred earlier this year. The Oregonian reports:

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Muller was admitted to practice law in California in May 2011. His state bar profile also shows he attended Harvard Law School.

Muller’s license was suspended in 2013 for failing to pay annual dues, records show. Later that year, the state bar filed disciplinary charges against Muller, citing his failure to file a green card application for a client’s son. The bar notice states Muller took $1,250 in advance money from the client.

Muller failed to cooperate with the bar’s investigation, leading the State Bar Court to recommend his disbarment in January. The state Supreme Court ordered him disbarred in June.

Wilson Purves, a partner with the Kerosky, Purves & Bogue in San Francisco, said Muller worked as an associate at the immigration law firm for a year before it terminated his employment in 2012. Purves declined to discuss the termination, but he said there was nothing that stood out about Muller.

“Nothing extraordinary would make me feel that he could be accused of something like this,” he said. “I don’t know what happened between then and now.”

In addition to his legal background, Muller also told investigators he’s a veteran of Gulf War I, a former Harvard professor, and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2008.

Man suspected of bizarre Vallejo kidnapping that cops considered a hoax [San Francisco Gate]
Former Marine arrested in kidnapping, ransom of Calif. woman [Daily News]
Disbarred lawyer charged in California woman’s kidnapping police previously called hoax [Oregonian]
FBI Arrests Suspect in “Gone Girl” Kidnapping Cops Thought Was a Hoax [Gawker]
Gone Girl [Amazon (affiliate link)]

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