New Charges Filed Against "Gone Girl" Kidnapper Matthew Muller for Previous Assaults

Matthew Muller, aged 47, who gained notoriety for the 2015 kidnapping connected to the “Gone Girl” case, has now been charged with two sexual assaults that date back to September and October 2009. According to prosecutors, Muller reportedly invaded a woman's home in Mountain View, California, where he assaulted her, bound her, and coerced her into consuming medication. Although he threatened to rape her, the woman managed to talk him out of it before he fled, leaving behind a suggestion that she should get a dog for her safety.

In another incident a month later, Muller is alleged to have broken into a Palo Alto residence, where he bound and gagged another woman, forcing her to drink Nyquil. He initiated an assault but again, this victim was able to persuade him to stop. With these charges, Muller faces two felony counts related to sexual assault occurring during home invasions, which could result in a life sentence if he is convicted. Currently, he is serving a 40-year sentence for his previous kidnapping conviction.

District Attorney Jeff Rosen emphasized the frightening nature of Muller’s crimes, stating their objective is to ensure he remains accountable and cannot cause further harm. The charges were revived following new evidence linked to Muller’s DNA being identified on binding materials used in one of the assaults.

Muller is not only a disbarred attorney with a Harvard background but also has previously pleaded guilty to the kidnapping of Denise Huskins. He received a 31-year sentence after admitting to multiple counts of forcible rape against her. In the original case of Huskins’ abduction, which was marred by police skepticism regarding her credibility, she eventually was released unharmed two days after her kidnapping, leading to a chaotic investigation that initially drew comparisons to the fictional narrative in "Gone Girl." Following Muller's arrest for a parallel case, connections were made back to the Huskins incident through evidence found during police searches, including a stolen computer belonging to her boyfriend.