Police thought an abduction was a hoax. Then the victims helped to uncover other crimes.

CBS News
March 27, 2026
3 min read

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The Bottom Line

A 2015 kidnapping victim initially dismissed as a hoax later partnered with law enforcement to help uncover additional crimes after her account was vindicated.

AI Summary

In 2015, an intruder abducted Denise Huskins from her California home while she slept, but police initially dismissed the kidnapping as a hoax after she was released after two days. Huskins' reappearance and subsequent investigation eventually vindicated her account and led to an arrest, while the case drew national attention through media coverage including a docuseries. Rather than fading into the past, Huskins and her partner became collaborators with law enforcement to help uncover additional crimes, turning a case marked by early skepticism into a platform for criminal investigation. The partnership demonstrates how victims can play an active investigative role and underscores how initial police conclusions—particularly dismissive ones—can shift as evidence emerges.

What's Being Done

Denise Huskins and her partner have become collaborators with law enforcement to help uncover additional crimes beyond her initial abduction case.

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