The convicted kidnapper and rapist whose crimes are at the center of the "American Nightmare" Netflix documentary was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole on Thursday for another kidnapping in Contra Costa County.
Matthew Muller, 48, notoriously kidnapped and sexually assaulted Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn, a Vallejo couple, in 2015.
Sign up for our NewslettersThe Vallejo Police Department initially dismissed the couple's report as a hoax and publicly humiliated them. But the crimes were later proven to be true, and Muller has since been convicted of the crimes against the couple.
| MORE | 10 years later: 'American Nightmare' survivors use terrifying kidnapping to change police culture
Muller was recently convicted this year of a 1993 Folsom kidnapping and sexual assault , and two sexual assaults in Santa Clara County from 2009, which led to him receiving three life sentences in prison.
| PREVIOUS COVERAGE | 'American Nightmare' kidnapper and rapist Matthew Muller receives two life sentences for additional assaults
On Thursday, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office confirmed with KCRA 3 that Muller pleaded no contest to one count of aggravated kidnapping and was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole by Judge David Goldstein.
The crime in Contra Costa County occurred weeks after Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn were kidnapped in 2015 and before he was arrested in connection with a home invasion in Dublin.
According to the district attorney's office, Muller entered a residence by climbing through a window using a ladder and subdued three people with zip ties and blindfolded them. He then forced one of the three people to collect $37,000 from their bank account and pay him, after threatening to hurt family members.
The three victims, who are related, had been terrified to come forward, thinking there were other perpetrators, the district attorney's office said. It was only after Muller confessed at Denise Huskins' urging that he was held responsible for other crimes.
"Nothing is ever going to completely heal the damage that was done to them that night. But in speaking with the victims, they were very, very grateful to know that he had been acting alone, that there wasn't a team of people who were out there watching them or following them," said Satish Jallepalli, deputy district attorney. "Because of this plea and the other cases that were brought against him, he will in all likelihood never see the light of day outside bars."
Muller, 48, will be in his 80s or 90s before a parole board would even consider his petition for release, the district attorney's office said.
Huskins was instrumental in obtaining Muller's confession. She had repeatedly told law enforcement that Muller told her he had attacked others in the past. The El Dorado County District Attorney, Vern Pierson, Seaside police chief Nick Borges, and former Dublin detective Misty Carausu, who helped solve her crime, have been working with the Quinns over the past year to secure Muller's convictions. As of today, he is linked to 12 victims.
Pierson and an FBI agent interviewed Muller at an Arizona federal prison last year.
Pierson said during the several-day interview, Muller drew a rough diagram of the crime scene location in an unincorporated area of San Ramon. Using Google Maps, investigators were able to identify the residence he described. Muller stated that he carried a ladder a significant distance to access a second-story entry point, then disposed of the ladder in a nearby ravine during his escape. Contra Costa detectives later located the ladder, confirming the account.
It's a shame it has taken 10 years to correct the mistakes made in the original investigation that allowed Muller to terrorize two additional families," said Pierson. "Poor interview and investigation practices allowed these additional families to be victimized. Modern science-based interviewing and the diligence of the Quinns and multiple law enforcement agencies are now working to correct that wrong.
Pierson said in recognition of their perseverance and contribution to justice, Denise and Aaron Quinn will receive the California District Attorneys Association's Witness of the Year Award in two weeks.
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READ THE FULL STORY: 'Rape of 'American Nightmare' ' sentenced to life for Contra Costa County kidnapping
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