Purported kidnapper drops ultimatum to California police
SAN FRANCISCO - The self-proclaimed ringleader of a group that says it abducted a California woman last week has backed away from a threat to harm the police if they don't apologize for calling the abduction a hoax.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports Wednesday that attorneys for both 29-year-old Denise Huskins, of Vallejo, and her boyfriend received emails from the purported ringleader saying the group's ultimatum to cause police harm was wrong and it won't inflict further damage.
The sender of the message also offered to surrender if the other members of the group were given immunity from prosecution, reports the paper.
"For what it's worth, what could have ended up as a prolific and dangerous criminal group has disbanded," the email reportedly read. "And you have Denise Huskins to thank for that."
The newspaper previously reported an email it received from the anonymous person threatened police and demanded they apologize to Huskins for not treating her like a victim.
Huskins' boyfriend, Aaron Quinn, reported on March 23 that kidnappers took Huskins and demanded an $8,500 ransom. She turned up safe two days later about 400 miles away.
Police initially investigated the case as a kidnapping but later called it a hoax. They have since declined to comment.
Attorneys for Huskins and her boyfriend have maintained the two are victims.