Floor SpeechUrgent2025-03-26

RECOGNIZING SEASIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT CHIEF NICK BORGES

EnvironmentCrime & Justice

Context

On 2025-03-26, Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19) delivered a floor speech titled "RECOGNIZING SEASIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT CHIEF NICK BORGES" in the House. The speech addressed the environment and also covered crime and justice.

Full Text

RECOGNIZING SEASIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT CHIEF NICK BORGES

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 55 (Wednesday, March 26, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 26, 2025)] [House] [Page H1281] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING SEASIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT CHIEF NICK BORGES (Mr. Panetta of California was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Seaside Police Department Chief Nick Borges and many others for their dedication and doggedness to solve the case called the ``American Nightmare.'' Aptly named, this case started back in 2015 in Vallejo, California, when Matthew Muller broke into the home of Denise and Aaron Quinn, drugged and bound them, and kidnapped Denise. Muller then took Denise to a cabin near Lake Tahoe where he sexually assaulted her and released her 3 days later down in southern California. Of course, Aaron immediately called the authorities, but the Vallejo Police Department was unable to solve the crime. This is after they interrogated Aaron for hours upon hours, brushing aside his explanation, trying to get him to confess to killing Denise. Ultimately, after Aaron wouldn't confess to something he didn't do, the detectives accused both Aaron and Denise of faking and lying about the whole thing. The detectives even went as far as putting out a formal statement, calling the whole thing a hoax and that, given the facts that had been presented thus far, this event appeared to be an orchestrated event, not a crime. Madam Speaker, get this. Around the same time period, Muller committed several more home invasions. He eventually got caught and convicted for those similar crimes. The Vallejo detectives never connected Muller to the kidnapping of Denise. It was such a sensational story about how the detectives acted and about how Aaron and Denise allegedly concocted a kidnapping that even Netflix came out with a documentary called the ``American Nightmare.'' Madam Speaker, it became one of the most watched docuseries on Netflix. Fortunately, one of the people who watched that Netflix series was Seaside Police Chief Nick Borges. Chief Borges didn't have anything to do with that case, but after watching the documentary in 2024, he literally reached out to Denise and Aaron. He let them know that even he was disgusted with the way the Vallejo detectives conducted the interviews and that Denise and Aaron had the backing of law enforcement, despite how they were treated. Chief Borges then decided to meet with the couple, along with Alameda County Detective Misty Carausu and El Dorado County DA Vern Pierson, all of whom felt that the investigation was mishandled. The group then started their own investigation and quickly found that Muller was in custody for similar crimes in the same areas. Chief Borges then simply and literally reached out to Muller who was in custody on his other similar crimes, and he asked Muller if he would want to talk about the crimes against Aaron and Denise. Madam Speaker, if you can imagine this, Muller responded, and he admitted what he did do to Denise. Further investigation by the group and getting the FBI involved led authorities to the Lake Tahoe cabin where they found further evidence to corroborate the crimes that Muller committed against Denise and Aaron. Eventually, Muller ended up pleading guilty to those crimes, as well as others that he had committed in the area. Madam Speaker, as DA Pierson said: This was a very unusual, crazy set of facts. It unfortunately had detectives who didn't believe Aaron and Denise from the start, as well as those who used some outdated investigation and interrogation techniques, that led them down the wrong path. Fortunately, though, police officers with common sense got involved to help solve this case. Moreover, Denise, Aaron, Chief Borges, and others are now working with law enforcement to change how interrogations are conducted and to ensure that what Aaron and Denise experienced never happens again. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend Denise and Aaron for their fortitude, for their resilience, and for their belief in law enforcement. I recognize Seaside Police Chief Borges and the other law enforcement officers who used common sense and their humanity to not only solve this case with a sense of justice but to do what is right in our society. ____________________

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RECOGNIZING SEASIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT CHIEF NICK BORGES Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 55 (Wednesday, March 26, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 26, 2025)] [House] [Page H1281] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING SEASIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT CHIEF NICK BORGES (Mr. Panetta of California was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Seaside Police Department Chief Nick Borges and many others for their dedication and doggedness to solve the case called the ``American Nightmare.'' Aptly named, this case started back in 2015 in Vallejo, California, when Matthew Muller broke into the home of Denise and Aaron Quinn, drugged and bound them, and kidnapped Denise. Muller then took Denise to a cabin near Lake Tahoe where he sexually assaulted her and released her 3 days later down in southern California. Of course, Aaron immediately called the authorities, but the Vallejo Police Department was unable to solve the crime. This is after they interrogated Aaron for hours upon hours, brushing aside his explanation, trying to get him to confess to killing Denise. Ultimately, after Aaron wouldn't confess to something he didn't do, the detectives accused both Aaron and Denise of faking and lying about the whole thing. The detectives even went as far as putting out a formal statement, calling the whole thing a hoax and that, given the facts that had been presented thus far, this event appeared to be an orchestrated event, not a crime. Madam Speaker, get this. Around the same time period, Muller committed several more home invasions. He eventually got caught and convicted for those similar crimes. The Vallejo detectives never connected Muller to the kidnapping of Denise. It was such a sensational story about how the detectives acted and about how Aaron and Denise allegedly concocted a kidnapping that even Netflix came out with a documentary called the ``American Nightmare.'' Madam Speaker, it became one of the most watched docuseries on Netflix. Fortunately, one of the people who watched that Netflix series was Seaside Police Chief Nick Borges. Chief Borges didn't have anything to do with that case, but after watching the documentary in 2024, he literally reached out to Denise and Aaron. He let them know that even he was disgusted with the way the Vallejo detectives conducted the interviews and that Denise and Aaron had the backing of law enforcement, despite how they were treated. Chief Borges then decided to meet with the couple, along with Alameda County Detective Misty Carausu and El Dorado County DA Vern Pierson, all of whom felt that the investigation was mishandled. The group then started their own investigation and quickly found that Muller was in custody for similar crimes in the same areas. Chief Borges then simply and literally reached out to Muller who was in custody on his other similar crimes, and he asked Muller if he would want to talk about the crimes against Aaron and Denise. Madam Speaker, if you can imagine this, Muller responded, and he admitted what he did do to Denise. Further investigation by the group and getting the FBI involved led authorities to the Lake Tahoe cabin where they found further evidence to corroborate the crimes that Muller committed against Denise and Aaron. Eventually, Muller ended up pleading guilty to those crimes, as well as others that he had committed in the area. Madam Speaker, as DA Pierson said: This was a very unusual, crazy set of facts. It unfortunately had detectives who didn't believe Aaron and Denise from the start, as well as those who used some outdated investigation and interrogation techniques, that led them down the wrong path. Fortunately, though, police officers with common sense got involved to help solve this case. Moreover, Denise, Aaron, Chief Borges, and others are now working with law enforcement to change how interrogations are conducted and to ensure that what Aaron and Denise experienced never happens again. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend Denise and Aaron for their fortitude, for their resilience, and for their belief in law enforcement. I recognize Seaside Police Chief Borges and the other law enforcement officers who used common sense and their humanity to not only solve this case with a sense of justice but to do what is right in our society. ____________________