Sex offender featured in 'American Nightmare' sentenced again for 2015 kidnappings in Contra Costa County

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, Calif. (TCN) -- A 48-year-old sex offender who was featured in the Netflix documentary series "American Nightmare" and has reportedly kidnapped and assaulted victims dating back to the 1990s was sentenced again for a separate kidnapping case in 2015.

The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office said Matthew Muller appeared in court on July 10 and changed his plea to no contest in connection with a 2015 kidnapping for ransom case in the area of San Ramon. A judge sentenced Muller to seven years to life on top of his existing 40-year federal sentence, as well as sentences out of Santa Clara and Sacramento counties. He won’t be able to petition a parole board until he is in his late 80s or early 90s.

According to prosecutors, the case out of Contra Costa County went unreported for nearly a decade and only came to light through his 2024 confession while he was serving time for the kidnapping and rape of Denise Huskins.

According to KRON-TV, in 2015, Muller broke into a home in Vallejo and tied up Huskins and her boyfriend. He reportedly kidnapped Huskins, took her to a cabin, and recorded sexual assaults before driving her back to Southern California and releasing her. Vallejo Police initially believed Huskins faked her kidnapping, and the case was the subject of the 2024 Netflix true crime documentary series "American Nightmare."

In the 2015 case out of Contra Costa County, prosecutors said Muller "unlawfully held two John Does and one Jane Doe for ransom, demanding that one of the captives withdraw over $30,000 from their bank account to secure the release of the others." Muller fled the home after receiving the money. The victims never reported the crime because they were worried the defendant would retaliate, and they have decided to remain anonymous.

District Attorney Diana Becton said, "The seriousness of Muller’s offenses was indeed nightmarish for the victims. The investigative work by law enforcement and our coordinated efforts with the El Dorado County District Attorney, Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office show that being resolute in the pursuit of justice can bring a measure of closure for the victims and reinforce our commitment to public safety."

MORE: