Denise Huskins: My Kidnapping Story

The Night of the Home Invasion [00:00:00]

• Denise Huskins describes a typical evening with her boyfriend, Aaron, ending in a deep relationship discussion.
• They went to bed happy, only to be woken at 3 a.m. by a bright light and a taser.
• A stranger's voice commanded them to lay down, and Huskins was ordered to tie up Aaron.

  "And the next thing you know, you have blacked out swim goggles put over your eyes so you can't see anything and headphones are placed over your ears."

A True Story of Survival [00:01:35]

• Huskins' story, recently featured in the Netflix documentary "American Nightmare," details her kidnapping, rape, and survival.
• Despite her ordeal, the world initially believed she had fabricated the entire event.
• She expresses the overwhelming and often conflicting emotions of sharing her story publicly.

  "But at the same time, I'm like, you know, at home on the couch curled in a ball, my stomach sick, like a lot of that, that fear, that terror."

Life Before the Trauma [00:03:20]

• In 2015, Huskins was 29, a physical therapist specializing in neurological disorders.
• She pursued her doctorate in New York and later specialized in traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury.
• She met Aaron, also a physical therapist, at work.

  "I went to get my doctorate in Brooklyn, New York, which was really cool experience to be able to get something completely different than Southern California, the energy, the culture, the people."

The Relationship Crossroads [00:04:50]

• Huskins and Aaron had been dating for seven months, with an "on again, off again" dynamic.
• Aaron was recovering from a difficult breakup with his ex-fiancée.
• Huskins had found text messages between Aaron and his ex, leading to a confrontation.

  "And so I kind of put my foot down and was like, OK, enough's enough. Like either you go if that's what you want to do, go back to her, do that or let me go."

A Night of Emotional Resolution [00:06:10]

• The night of the kidnapping, they had an emotional but not confrontational conversation about their relationship's future.
• They decided to try and make their relationship work, feeling a sense of a fresh start.
• Huskins felt emotionally exhausted but optimistic going to bed.

  "We were emotionally exhausted, but like, OK, like this is this feels like a fresh start, like that ghost of the relationship of the past is gone."

Woken by Intrusion [00:08:00]

• Huskins was jolted awake by a bright white light and laser pointers, realizing intruders were present.
• The fear was immediate and overwhelming, recognizing the situation was far beyond a simple robbery.
• She and Aaron were frozen in shock initially.

  "And so instantly I knew like, holy fuck, there's people here. We're surrounded. They have guns. Like, this is real."

Following Orders [00:09:00]

• A voice instructed Huskins to tie Aaron up with zip ties.
• She complied, shaking and internally panicking, while the voice calmly instructed her.
• The captor's controlled and patient demeanor was more horrifying than anticipated violence.

  "And the voice keeps talking saying like, you're doing a good job. You are staying calm. It was very like distinct, almost robotic."

The Robbery Deception [00:10:30]

• The intruders initially claimed it was a robbery, repeating "This is a robbery. We are not here to hurt you."
• Huskins hoped it was just a robbery, trying to stay calm and focused.
• They were forced to wear blindfolds and take sedatives.

  "And the fact that there wasn't immediate violence I'm thinking and hoping, and also just to keep myself calm, like, okay, maybe this is just a robbery."

The Captor's Revelation [00:12:40]

• Huskins was separated from Aaron and brought downstairs.
• Her captor revealed the kidnapping was not intended for her but for Aaron's ex-girlfriend.
• He stated they would hold her for 48 hours and that Aaron would have to complete tasks for her release.

  "This wasn't meant for you. This was meant for, and he named Aaron's ex by her first and last name."

The Car Ride and Cabin [00:14:30]

• Huskins was placed in the trunk of a car, struggling to breathe and trying to stay conscious.
• She was later transferred to another car's trunk and eventually passed out from the sedatives.
• She woke up in a remote cabin, unsure of her location, fearing torture and death.

  "And starts going and I could tell we get on a freeway. And yeah, I'm thinking like, can I like, kick out a tail light, like some other shit you see in movies."

Psychological Warfare [00:17:00]

• Huskins realized she was in a remote location with no one to witness her situation.
• She told herself her only defense was controlling her reaction and not giving her captor the satisfaction of seeing her break.
• Her captor claimed to be in the military with PTSD, attempting to justify his actions.

  "So if like, this is what gets them off, if this is what motivates them to like, you know, submit a cowering, screaming woman, then I'm not going to give that to them."

Conditioning and Manipulation [00:19:00]

• The captor rewarded "good behavior" with small freedoms, like taking off the blindfold when alone, and provided toiletries and food.
• He claimed the footage of assaults was not good enough and demanded she act as if she enjoyed it.
• Huskins felt forced to believe he wasn't entirely bad to survive.

  "And he would reward me for good behavior. So like, after he rapes me the first time, I was allowed when I was by myself to take the blindfold off."

The Second Assault and a Glimmer of Hope [00:22:00]

• Huskins' lowest moment was the second rape, which she endured by dissociating and picturing Aaron.
• Her captor showed her an article with her father's words of encouragement, which devastated her.
• She clung to thoughts of her future, family, and friends to maintain hope.

  "And then he came in at one point to show me an article, um, with my dad speaking. And I like read the words of my dad's like telling me to be strong."

Release and Lingering Threats [00:25:30]

• The captor stated he would release her but warned her not to mention anything about the military or the sexual assaults to the police.
• He threatened surveillance on her family, leaving her feeling mentally confined despite being physically free.
• She was released at a pre-arranged cross street, still unsure if she was truly safe.

  "And, you know, we know where your family live. Like, we, like we monitor victims for years based on everything that he had had said so far."

Facing Disbelief [00:28:00]

• Upon release, Huskins was met by police and a media storm.
• The lead detective offered her immunity, which she found terrifying, suspecting police involvement.
• Her family, including attorneys, advised her not to speak without legal counsel.

  "And the fact that like people were shocked that I got an attorney, especially the detectives themselves. It's like, you offered me a legal agreement."

The "Gone Girl" Accusations [00:31:00]

• Police immediately suspected Aaron of murder, then shifted to believing the couple staged the event for fame.
• The media compared her case to the movie "Gone Girl," fueling public doubt.
• Huskins felt her life's work and identity were destroyed by the accusations.

  "And he's like, look, the Vallejo police just held a press conference and completely threw you under the bus and said it was all a lie."

The SART Exam and Further Scrutiny [00:33:00]

• Huskins underwent a grueling SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) exam, which was later used against her.
• She was called "Gone Girl" by the FBI, despite not having seen the movie.
• The lack of physical injuries and her perceived calmness were used to question her credibility.

  "And my criminal defense attorney is telling me like, look, like it's, it's really grueling. It's like a four hour long thing."

The Systemic Failure [00:37:00]

• Huskins highlights that law enforcement training acknowledges survival tactics like building rapport, yet victims are often disbelieved.
• She contrasts the male-dominated investigative approach with the empathy of a female detective who uncovered further evidence.
• The captor was eventually caught for attacking another family, and it was revealed police could have traced his location earlier.

  "And then the FBI affidavit, it said there was no signs of non-consensual sex. So it was just like, like time and time again, like it wasn't that bad."

The Aftermath and Reclaiming Her Narrative [00:42:00]

• Huskins and Aaron supported each other through therapy and never blamed one another.
• She continues to work on healing, exploring EMDR therapy to reconnect her mind and body.
• Having children has motivated her to teach consent and boundaries, while also bringing new fears.

  "And so like, I think sometimes it's human nature too, to like blame yourself because the only thing you can control is yourself."

Hope for Survivors [00:46:00]

• Huskins hopes her story empowers other women to believe in themselves and speak out.
• She emphasizes the importance of women supporting and believing each other, countering societal narratives that demonize strong women.
• She advocates for empathy and openness, recognizing that no one truly knows another's experience.

  "And so it's like, how do we at least have a little bit more of unity with each other to be like, I see you, I've been there."