Netflix documentary: American Nightmare

[agnes]

Woman was kidnapped in Vallejo and turned up alive in Huntington Beach.  Vallejo police said it was a "Gone Girl" hoax.

Anyone wanna discuss? 

[Deleted]

Honestly, I thought it was a hoax. I remember the first part where police said it was a hoax and missed the follow up news that it was NOT. I was wondering how the couple was okay with interviewing and actually wondered if they were actors instead.

They absolutely deserved that settlement money.

[agnes]

I guess I wasn't paying attention at the time, cuz I don't even remember this story or anything when this happened. My parents lived on the same street in HB at that time too. It's wild (but not surprising I guess), that the police went straight to blaming the boyfriend for murdering her and then when she shows up, that she faked it. Like what?! Also, ignoring other victims. And still not believing the victim. ugh

I also feel uneasy that the victims are saying they think there was more than one kidnapper, but the case is closed since the one dude was caught.

[cmeon]

The media frenzy and the way the public devoured it like sharks to chum? The lazy male cops/FBI agent who were so myopic that they couldn't get past a fucking movie script (nevermind that it was a book first) and too lacking in intelligent curiousity that they couldn't handle the most minor investigative tasks?

I'm glad there was a Misty, because there are a whole lot of villains in this story. That couple deserved every penny from the city, but that is no true justice for what happened to her and the way the world reacted.

[mofongo]

My H is home with Covid and watching this. He loves true crime, maybe he should post here. 😅 just joking

[marie]

I can’t believe the police didn’t face any repercussions from it, or really I guess a can. At least they get to be publicly shamed through the documentary. I can’t believe they decided to put his phone on airplane mode when he said the kidnappers would be contacting him on it?!?! Then later realized that they did in fact miss 2 attempted contacts from him.

[rachers]

I had never heard of this story until we watched it the last few days. It’s a crazy story! My DH and I both had moments of is this really true? Wild.

[1confused1]

I remember when this happened, I live about an hour from Vallejo. It totally seemed like a hoax back then. I started the show last night, hoping to finish it tonight.

[eb777888]

Yeah, I have no idea how I missed this story when it came out! I binged it all in one day and it was infuriating. The end, when you find out the police didn't even attempt to trace the fucking call? Enraging. And Detective Mustard was awarded office of the year that year. Total bullshit.

[gemini79]

This is a potentially hot take, but Aaron's initial story WAS wild. And I don't think the cops were wrong to say or think, "shit this sounds really wild!"

HOWEVER. where they went totally wrong was moving from a rational thought of how weird the case presentation was to total incompetence as detectives and lack of ability to recognize and challenge the confirmation bias in order to..idk, do their jobs.

When parts of the case started to come out..like reports of the peeper that matched the description in the area..that they simply didn't follow up on at all
...my jaw dropped.

Also that mat mustard was awarded detective of the year? Please.

[Alex]

I remember when it happened but I forgot the resolution. I thought it was a solid doc. I had some serious female rage during a lot of it. So a member of the public asked the female cop the right question about the Mustang and bam, solved? Believe victims. Still ragey.

[thejen626]

I just finished this and I am ENRAGED.

This is a must watch.

[gummybear]

We finished this last night. I can understand the initial skepticism as due diligence of exploring all possibilities including hoax but HOLY SHIT. I cannot even begin to fathom how they must have felt and they deserve every dollar they got x100. Those cops deserve to be in jail. The way that one guy went on TV and rebuked her with such disdain…I want to vomit.

Whenever I see things like this I always get so wrapped up in the thought that this is just the one that got exposed. I think of all the stories that got covered up, the victims that got blamed, the innocents that got murdered by cops, while the lies were told, twisted, pushed by the media…it’s almost too much to bear.

[fivechickens]

I remember when this happened.

The Vallejo police suck. Of course, it takes a female cop to get shit done.

I was kind of surprised Denise and Aaron got married especially since they didn’t seem that serious when this happened. I just thought this would be something so traumatic that it would ripped them apart.

[gummybear]

Jan 20, 2024 8:16:49 GMT -5 fivechickens said:

I remember when this happened.

The Vallejo police suck. Of course, it takes a female cop to get shit done.

I was kind of surprised Denise and Aaron got married especially since they didn’t seem that serious when this happened. I just thought this would be something so traumatic that it would ripped them apart.

I was really happy to see their ending but the entire time I was wondering where they were as couple after. They kind of glossed over the whole ex aspect and how she fit in to the story (other than her being the supposed target). He was apparently still talking to her and was in therapy to get over their relationship when Denise got kidnapped? I wasn’t sure if HE was hung up on her on SHE was trying to break them up? Anyway, just from his body language and facial expressions I got the impression he carries a lot guilt and prob blames himself for what happened to her. I really felt for him, it was hard to watch. And I’m sure there was a fair amount of trauma bonding - it truly was them against the world. They seem really happy now though ❤️❤️

[RoxMonster]

I had never heard of this case until now. Putting it on my watch list for this weekend.

[fivechickens]

gummybear I was happy with their ending too. They had so many things against them but they got through it.

I do wish they delved into his ex. Was she really the target? Maybe I missed it but how do they know that?

[gretchenindisguise]

Jan 20, 2024 9:42:04 GMT -5 fivechickens said:

gummybear I was happy with their ending too. They had so many things against them but they got through it.

I do wish they delved into his ex. Was she really the target? Maybe I missed it but how do they know that?

The kidnappers told them.

[agnes]

Jan 20, 2024 11:10:18 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

Jan 20, 2024 9:42:04 GMT -5 fivechickens said:

gummybear I was happy with their ending too. They had so many things against them but they got through it.

I do wish they delved into his ex. Was she really the target? Maybe I missed it but how do they know that?

The kidnappers told them.

I wonder how she feels about this and being the intended victim.  Like if I was her I'd be looking over my shoulder the rest of my life.

[gummy]

I can't wait to watch this. I remember being fascinated by this story when I saw it in a Dateline or 20/20 a while back.

[AAM2012]

This totally reiterates why I tell DH that if anything ever happens to me, he’s not to speak to the police and immediately get an attorney.

[sunnysally]

I was really impressed with Denise. They deserve every penny of that settlement.

[twilightmv]

Jan 20, 2024 12:40:48 GMT -5 agnes said:

Jan 20, 2024 11:10:18 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

The kidnappers told them.

I wonder how she feels about this and being the intended victim.  Like if I was her I'd be looking over my shoulder the rest of my life.

There was only the one kidnapper who is now in jail. He called other victims by their names and was a peeping Tom, so I do assume he had been watching her before the break up.

[Jalapeñomel]

Wait the cops were Detective French and Detective Mustard?

All of this, utter failure on these people.

[basilosaurus]

Jan 21, 2024 13:26:49 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Wait the cops were Detective French and Detective Mustard?

All of this, utter failure on these people.

keystone cops crossed with clue

[wanderingback]

I’m pretty sure this was also on 20/20 somewhat recently, but I still watched the documentary cause I couldn’t remember all the details.

I don’t care how suspicious it looks if anything like this ever were to happen to me my first stop would be to get a lawyer before talking to the police. The way police lie and try to manipulate you to go along with their story is so fucked up.

I’m glad the truth was revealed but this stuff happens all the time and poor and people of color are not so lucky to get settlements or their truths told afterwards. It’s why whenever stories are reported and the police statements are all that we hear I remain skeptical. It’s all enraging.

[pugz]

Uggh it made me so mad. Also the fact that they made her come in to be interviewed before getting the rape kit done.

[Jalapeñomel]

Jan 22, 2024 9:27:46 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

I’m pretty sure this was also on 20/20 somewhat recently, but I still watched the documentary cause I couldn’t remember all the details.

I don’t care how suspicious it looks if anything like this ever were to happen to me my first stop would be to get a lawyer before talking to the police. The way police lie and try to manipulate you to go along with their story is so fucked up.

I’m glad the truth was revealed but this stuff happens all the time and poor and people of color are not so lucky to get settlements or their truths told afterwards. It’s why whenever stories are reported and the police statements are all that we hear I remain skeptical. It’s all enraging.

I heard the 20/20 special was better summarizing what happened, but I have yet to see it. 

[ssmjlm]

This whole thing was so heartbreaking to watch.

Of course not one officer was disciplined, ridiculous.

[ECB]

I’m watching the 3rd episode. So creepy, and the Vallejo police were horrible.