American Nightmare kidnapper sentenced for separate 2015 San Ramon abduction

Matthew Muller, already serving a 40-year federal sentence for the notorious Vallejo kidnapping of Denise Huskins, received a new sentence of seven years to life for a separate kidnapping case from 2015. In a Martinez courtroom, he pleaded no contest for abducting three victims and demanding a ransom exceeding $30,000. The victims, fearing retaliation, remained anonymous and did not report the crime until Muller confessed in 2024. Judge David Goldstein emphasized the severity of Muller's actions in his sentencing, which will add to his existing prison time. Muller, 48, is currently incarcerated in Tucson, Arizona, and will not be eligible for parole until he is in his late 80s or early 90s.

The 2015 abduction case remained unreported for nearly a decade, raising concerns about victims' safety and the need for better reporting mechanisms for such crimes. The crimes drew media attention due to their similarities to the fictional narrative of "Gone Girl," as police initially believed Huskins' kidnapping was a hoax. Muller also faces charges for two home invasions and sexual assaults from 2009 in Mountain View and Palo Alto, further complicating his legal troubles.