Suspect in 'Gone Girl' Kidnapping Case is Harvard-Educated Attorney, Police Say
— -- The suspect in a mysterious "Gone Girl" kidnapping case in Vallejo, California, is a Harvard-educated attorney and said he was a former Marine suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, according to police and court documents.
Matthew Muller, 38, who has been accused of kidnapping Denise Huskins in March, attended Harvard Law School and worked at the Kerosky, Purves & Bogue law firm in San Francisco, according to The State Bar of California records. He has since been disbarred, according to the state bar.
Lt. Herb Walters of the Dublin, California, police also confirmed Muller is an attorney and attended Harvard.
One of the partners from the law firm said Muller, 38, worked there in 2012 for up to a year and was terminated for confidential but non-criminal reasons.
A sworn affidavit containing allegations against Muller was unsealed earlier today, according to the FBI.
According to the affidavit, Muller served in the Marines from 1995-'99, attended Harvard from 2003-'06 and taught at the school from 2006-'09.
A rep for Harvard, Michelle Deakin, said Muller worked as a research assistant and clinical fellow but was never on the faculty.
Muller told investigators that he suffered from Gulf War illness "problems with psychosis, and in 2008 was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder," the affidavit said.
In June, when Muller was arrested in connection with a home invasion robbery in Dublin, California, authorities found similarities to the "Gone Girl" kidnapping in March, the FBI said.
Muller, of Orangevale, California, is currently being held at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California, according to Dublin Police.
His lawyer, Thomas Johnson, denied the kidnapping claim and said he and Muller are looking forward to defending themselves. He also said that he and his client were not made aware of that the FBI was investigating.
Johnson said that Muller is bi-polar and has a history of mental illness.
Muller may have committed other similar crimes, according to the FBI. The investigation is ongoing, the FBI said, and anyone with information about Muller is asked to contact law enforcement.
On March 23, a man called police to report that his girlfriend, Huskins, had been abducted from his Vallejo home, police said.
Two days later, Huskins was found safe in Huntington Beach, police said. The boyfriend told investigators Huskins' abductors made a $8,500 ransom demand, police said.
On March 25, police in Vallejo said that they found "no evidence to support the claims" that she was abducted.
Attorneys for the couple said Monday that they were "re-victimized" by police who initially said the couple perpetrated a hoax.
The Marine Corps did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
