Netflix’s ‘real-life Gone Girl’ documentary series was released for subscribers to stream today.
The highly-anticipated three-part show, American Nightmare, includes the Rosamund Pike figure in the story giving her account of events.
Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn became known as the Gone Girl hoaxer couple in 2015 after the former was abducted from their home in Vallejo, California.
For two days, the then-29-year-old was drugged and raped by her abductor in a far-away house before being set free on an alley next to her parents’ home.
However, investigators did not buy the remarkable story until the real perpetrator confessed. Huskins went on to successfully sue the police department for defamation.
Netflix’s ‘real-life Gone Girl’ documentary series has dropped on Netflix including an interview from kidnapping victim Denise Huskins
Huskins and Aaron Quinn – 29 and 30 years old at the time – became known as the Gone Girl hoaxer couple in 2015 after she was abducted from their home in Vallejo, California
The trailer shows footage of the doting boyfriend in police interrogation rooms as he was questioned about an argument with his girlfriend over messages she had found on his phone
The real story behind Huskins’ disappearance has even more unbelievable elements than just her being dropped off home by her kidnappers.
The couple, who were both physiotherapists, had been asleep in bed at the time of the intrusion.
Quinn, 30 at the time, first called 911 the day after the kidnapping, telling the operator that he could not phone sooner because he was ‘tied up’ – literally.
Later recalling the night to police, he said: ‘I wake up. There’s a bright light blinding us, a taser goes off and I see they’re wearing wetsuits… They asked Denise to tie my hands behind my back,’ he said.
The perpetrator brandished a fake gun before playing a pre-recorded message that made it seem as if there were multiple kidnappers.
The terrified pair were then drugged and blindfolded with blacked-out goggles before Huskins was bundled into a trunk and driven nearly 500 miles away.
Police were met at the scene by blood splatters throughout the house, zip ties, toy guns and even a blow-up doll.
But suspicions about who could have been behind Huskins’ disappearance immediately fell on her partner.
American Nightmare includes footage of the boyfriend in police interrogation rooms being questioned about an argument with his girlfriend over messages she had found on his phone shortly before her disappearance.
The real culprit had been demanding $15,000 in ransom for Huskins’ safe return during the two-day ordeal.
But days later her captor inexplicably dropped her off in an alley outside her parents’ home to everyone’s astonishment.
Recalling the moment the couple reunited, Huskins told ABC’s 20/20: ‘Every moment in captivity I kept picturing him, I kept just visualizing what that feeling must be like to finally feel safe in his arms again.
‘When he knocked on that door and I opened it, we just embraced… We were crying and holding each other.’
Quinn added: ‘I knew our lives had changed forever and we’d go through more struggles but at least we had each other.’
And Quinn was proved right, as Huskins’ release only made observers more suspicious at first.
Investigators even found a blow-up doll upon arrival at the scene
Blood was splattered throughout the house as well as zip ties being found
Huskins was inexplicably dropped off down an alley near her parents’ home days after the abduction
Many said it was proof that the couple had lied and they were inundated with comments on social media from trolls who believed that had made the story up.
Even Vallejo Police Lt. Kenny Park said as much at a press conference after Huskins resurfaced.
‘We were not able to substantiate any of the things that he was saying. If anything, it is Mr. Quinn and Ms. Huskins that owe this community an apology,’ he said.
Similarly, commentators in the new series stated Huskins ‘looked more like a suspect,’ adding: ‘I’ve never heard of a case where the kidnappers drop their victim off at the front door of their house.’
But the case took yet another shocking turn when 41-year-old struck-off lawyer and former Marine, Matthew Muller, turned himself in to police months later.
He pleaded guilty to the crime and revealed that he had been using drones to watch the couple when they were at home.
Huskins testified in court that Muller had treated her like ‘an animal’ as he raped her, explaining: ‘You flopped me around the bed like a rag doll.
‘The only way I got through it was to picture that it was Aaron that I was with, and that will haunt me for the rest of my life.’
She said of the harrowing assault: ‘I told myself, no matter what they do, I’m not going to beg and scream.
‘If it is the last moments that I am going to be living, I am just going to stay calm and be grateful for the life I had.’
Muller told prosecutors that he suffered bipolar disorder and was medicated when he abducted Huskins.
In 2017 he pleaded guilty to federal kidnapping charges and was sentenced to 40 years in prison in 2017.
The vindicated couple the knot in 2016 – a year after the kidnapping – before welcoming a daughter in 2020
Matthew Muller, a 41-year-old disbarred lawyer, turned himself in to police several months later
Muller was later sentenced to a further 31 years to serve concurrently after pleading no contest to two counts of forcible rape of Huskins as well as robbery of an inhabited dwelling, residential burglary and false imprisonment.
Huskins and Quinn have since shared their story in a book titled Victim F: From Crime Victims To Suspects To Survivors.
The vindicated couple the knot in 2016 – a year after the kidnapping – before welcoming a daughter in 2020.
They sued the police department for defamation and won a $2.5 million settlement.
