Police: No Evidence Of Abduction In Case Of O.C. Woman Reported Kidnapped
HUNTINGTON BEACH (CBSLA.com) — Authorities investigating the case of an Orange County woman reported kidnapped this week say there is no evidence of an abduction.
Denise Huskins was reported missing by her boyfriend Aaron Quinn, who said she was kidnapped overnight Monday from his Mare Island home in the western part of Vallejo and a ransom demand in the amount of $8,500 was made.
Early Wednesday morning, a family member said Huskins contacted her father by phone to say she was dropped off at her mother's house in Huntington Beach and was safe.
The relative told CBS2/KCAL9 that Huskins left her mother's house because no one was home and walked to her father's apartment on 19th Street, which was also vacant because he had gone up north to assist search efforts for his daughter. Some neighbors took her in and notified police.
Police questioned Huskins at the neighbors' home before releasing her to a relative who took her to an undisclosed location.
She reportedly told her father at least two abductors had her bound and gagged in a car and, for unknown reasons, released her. She says she didn't know her abductors and she was not harmed.
Late Wednesday evening, Vallejo police expressed doubt that the incident was a kidnapping.
"Today, there is no evidence to support the claims that this was a stranger abduction or an abduction at all," Vallejo police said late Wednesday in a written statement. "Given the facts that have been presented thus far, this event appears to be an orchestrated event and not a kidnapping."
Lt. Kenny Park of the Vallejo Police Department said during a nighttime briefing that Huskins had initially indicated through family members that she would meet detectives and provide detailed statement of what occurred.
"Subsequently, the Vallejo Police Department and the FBI made arrangements to have Ms. Huskins flown up to Northern California in a jet. As of right now, we have not heard from Ms. Huskins, and we are no longer in contact with any of the family members," the lieutenant said.
Park said the department initially had a difficult time believing the statement they were provided with by Quinn in regard to the kidnapping.
"We also know that the statement that Mr. Quinn provided was such an incredible story we initially had a hard time believing and upon further investigation, we were not able to substantiate any of the things he was saying," Park added.
Over the course of the past several days, Park said, the department devoted more than 40 police detectives and more than 100 support personnel to assist in the investigation.
"That is a tremendous amount of resources that in my opinion was wasted," he said. "Mr. Quinn and Ms. Huskins has plundered valuable resources away from our community and has taken the focus away from the true victims of our community while instilling fear amongst our community members."
Park said the investigation is continuing.
"At the conclusion of the investigation, if we feel that there is sufficient evidence to move forward, we will be requesting criminal charges either through the state or the federal level," said Park, who indicated that Huskins has retained an attorney.
A family member of Huskins told CBS2/KCAL9 relatives continue to believe that she was kidnapped and said Huskins has every intention of talking to the Vallejo Police Department.
