Kidnapping Of Denise Huskins Ruled A Hoax, Criminal Charges Are Possible

VALLEJO (CBS13) — The alleged kidnapping of Denise Huskins is now being treated as a hoax, and criminal charges are possible.

Huskins told family members she would meet with Vallejo Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Arrangements were made for her to fly on a jet to Vallejo to answer questions. Since then, no contact has been made between police and Huskins.

A visibly agitated Lt. Kenny Parks called the investigation "a wild goose chase" and said Huskins and her boyfriend Aaron Quinn are no longer being treated as a victim or a witness. Quinn is currently not in custody.

"Mr. Quinn and Ms. Huskins have plundered valuable resources away from our community, and have taken focus away from the true victims of our community while instilling fear amongst our community members," he said. "So if anything, it's Mr. Quinn and Ms. Huskins that owe this community an apology."

Huskins was reported missing on Monday with a reported ransom demand in the amount of $8,500. Search crews spent most of Tuesday searching for her. Vallejo Police kept details on the case quiet, and provided few details and answers to questions.

On Wednesday, she was located in Huntington Beach, near where her parents live. Her parents had come to Vallejo to join the search efforts, so they were not at home at the time.

"Our investigation has concluded, none of the claims have been substantiated," Parks said.

But late Wednesday night, Vallejo Police released a statement saying "Today there is no evidence to support the claims that this was a stranger abduction, or an abduction at all. Given the facts that have been presented thus far, this event appears to be an orchestrated event and not a kidnapping."

The investigation is ongoing, and charges are possible against Quinn and Huskins.

Police say Denise Huskins promised to meet with detectives to provide additional details, and a jet was provided to bring her to Northern California. But authorities have been unable to contact Huskins directly or her family members.

Huskins has retained an attorney, and detectives do not know where she is.

Earlier in the day, the San Francisco Chronicle reported it received an email from someone claiming to be Huskins' kidnapper. Parks said the Chronicle held the message it received on Tuesday while investigators verified the authenticity.

According to the Chronicle, the email said in part that Huskins "will be returned safely [Wednesday]. We will send a link to her location after she has been dropped off. She will be in good health and safe while she waits. Any advance on us or our associates will create a dangerous situation for Denise."

That email also apparently contained a voice recording of a woman who is said to be Huskins to prove it was them and that they she was indeed alive.

CBS13 spoke to her uncle, Jeff Kane, who says he has no idea who would want to take his niece, or why it took her boyfriend 12 hours to report the abduction.

As for whether he believes his niece really was kidnapped, he said, "This is a girl who is strong and independent; this isn't a fragile human being who would make up something like this. It's just no way."