Detective Mat Mustard played a central role in the Aaron Quinn and Denise Huskins case, the focus of Netflix’s docuseries American Nightmare.
However, many believe that he derailed the investigation more rather than actually helping to solve it. But what ultimately happened to him? Was he reprimanded or promoted?
In March 2015, Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn suffered a harrowing home invasion by kidnapper Matthew Muller. Detective Mat Mustard initially doubted Quinn’s story, resulting in a distressing interrogation and labeling the case a hoax. Despite Muller’s capture confirming the couple’s innocence, Mustard received the Officer of the Year award and faced no consequences. Shockingly, he was promoted to Detective Sergeant in 2018. Since the release of American Nightmare, Vallejo PD and Mustard have come under intense public scrutiny.
What Was the Fate of Detective Mat Mustard in American Nightmare?
In March 2015, a harrowing home invasion involved Denise Huskins and her boyfriend, Aaron Quinn. The kidnapper, Matthew Muller, subjected Quinn to captivity and drugging, while Huskins endured a horrifying two-day ordeal of s*xual assault.
However, Mat Mustard initially doubted Quinn’s account during questioning.
Mat Mustard’s questionable actions led to a traumatic interrogation of Quinn, whom he accused of murdering his girlfriend, and labeled the case a hoax, branding it as ‘the Gone Girl case.’
While American Nightmare offers answers about Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn’s post-series life, it inexplicably leaves detective Mat Mustard’s fate shrouded in mystery.
In a surprising twist, the former Police Chief Andrew Bidou bestowed the Officer of the Year title upon Mat Mustard for the year 2015 – the same year as Denise Huskins’ kidnapping.
This move seemingly suggests that the Vallejo PD defended Mustard’s handling of the case. But the department’s support doesn’t stop there.
In 2016, the victimized couple filed a defamation lawsuit against the City of Vallejo, ultimately settling out of court on March 16, 2018.
The settlement awarded Quinn and Huskins $2.5 million in damages, accompanied by an official apology from the city to both victims. The statement recognized the trauma they endured and criticized the city’s insensitive handling of their case.
Despite the settlement, there’s no public record of Mat Mustard facing repercussions for his defamatory statements or mishandled investigation.
Astonishingly, the Vallejo PD promoted Mustard to Detective Sergeant in 2018, further confounding the situation.
Captain John Whitney, a whistleblower and Mustard’s former colleague, alleges that Mustard lobbied former Police Chief Andrew Bidou in 2017 to lower the standards of the sergeant’s exam after failing it.
If proven true, this raises questions about the department’s role in not only tolerating Mustard’s incompetence but encouraging it, elevating him to a position of greater authority.
Since the release of American Nightmare, both the Vallejo PD and Mat Mustard have faced public scrutiny for their handling of the Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn case.
Viewers of the series have taken to social media to express their frustration with the police’s actions, with many naming Mustard directly.
Furthermore, some disgruntled viewers have review-bombed the Vallejo PD’s Yelp page in protest, demanding accountability for the officers involved in the Huskins case.
In light of these revelations, one might wonder: If Detective Mat Mustard exhibited questionable competence, how did law enforcement manage to capture Matthew Muller?
The Dublin Police Department made a pivotal arrest on July 13, 2015, apprehending Muller for Huskins’ kidnapping. His apprehension resulted from leaving his cell phone at a crime scene, inadvertently providing crucial evidence to the police.
This blunder validated the couple’s ordeal. Subsequently, during his capture for a similar home invasion in Dublin, California, Muller pleaded guilty on September 29, 2016, and received a 40-year prison sentence.
American Nightmare is available for streaming on Netflix.
Do you believe the Vallejo PD’s promotion of Mat Mustard sends the wrong message about accountability? What do you think of Matt Mustard?
Let us know in the comments below.
