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San Francisco Chronicle
14 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘American Nightmare' rapist convicted of terrorizing campers at Northern California lake
Serial rapist and kidnapper Matthew Muller, the former Marine and Harvard-educated immigration lawyer whose bizarre abduction of Denise Huskins in Vallejo became a Netflix documentary, was convicted Wednesday of terrorizing a young couple at Folsom Lake as a teenager more than three decades ago. In 1993, Muller was 16 years old when he used a gun to order two young campers out of their tent. He tied up the male and carried the female away to sexually assault her, according to the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office. Muller would later admit to the crimes to law enforcement and on Wednesday he pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 11 years to life, prosecutors said. 'This case is a powerful reminder that the pursuit of justice never ends,' said Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho. 'Matthew Muller's admission to the horrific kidnapping and sexual assault of a young girl in 1993 brings long-overdue justice for the victims. Thanks to the continued efforts of law enforcement, a dangerous sex offender is being held responsible for his crimes in our community.' Muller has now been convicted of six separate kidnappings and rapes spanning five Northern California counties since 1993. Muller agreed to be transferred to adult court for the Folsom Lake attack. The 32-year-old cold case was filed by Sacramento County prosecutors after evidence linked Muller, now 48, to the crime. The office's Cold Case, Science & Technology Unit helped solve the case, prosecutors said. In 2015, Muller broke into Huskins and her boyfriend's Mare Island home where he bound, blindfolded and forced them to drink a sedative. He forced Huskins into the trunk of his car and drove her to his South Lake Tahoe home where he raped her twice. Two days later, he drove her to her family's home in Huntington Beach and released her. While she was held captive, Muller sent an anonymous email to the Chronicle with an audio clip of Huskins speaking. Vallejo police initially believed her story was a hoax, saying she faked her own kidnapping. After Dublin police arrested Muller for a similar home invasion, investigators found a cellphone traced to him which led to evidence linking him to Huskins' abduction. Vallejo police would issue a public apology for the botched investigation and the city would pay the couple $2.5 million in a settlement. The entire episode would be chronicled in the Netflix documentary 'American Nightmare.' A judge sentenced Muller to 40 years in prison for the Vallejo case. In January, investigators from Santa Clara and Contra Costa counties connected Muller to unsolved cases in those areas. Muller broke into a woman's Mountain View home on September 29, 2009, attacked her, tied her up and forced her to drink a mix of medications, threatening to rape her. The next month, he broke into a woman's Palo Alto home, gagged the woman, forced her to drink NyQuil and assaulted her. Muller pleaded guilty to two felony charges of assault with the intention of committing rape during a burglary and was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. In Contra Costa County, prosecutors charged Muller with kidnapping three victims for ransom near San Ramon. In spring 2015, prosecutors said, Muller held two men and a woman for ransom, demanding that one of the hostages withdraw tens of thousands of dollars from their bank account in order to secure their release. After getting the money, Muller fled. His involvement in that case was revealed during correspondence between law enforcement and an incarcerated Muller, in which he confessed to multiple crimes in Northern California, prosecutors said.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. set to ban common food dyes from food supply including colorings for M&Ms, Lucky Charms and Gatorade
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., is expected to announce the Food and Drug Administration's intent to phase out the use of petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the nation's food supply - and its coloring used in many common foods. The Trump administration says the move could mark a 'major step forward' in the drive to 'Make America Healthy Again.' The ban would impact products such as breakfast cereals, candy and snacks. They dyes been tied to neurological problems in some children. 'We've shown now that this directly affects academic performance, violence in the schools, and mental health, as well as physical health,' Kennedy said at a cabinet meeting earlier this month. It is unclear when the changes could be implemented, but Kennedy is slated to give more details later Tuesday. The secretary is anticipated to announce the approval of additional natural dyes, a person familiar with the plans told ABC News. Here are the dyes that could be up on the chopping block and what they're commonly found in: Red No. 40 – Pepsi Blue, Starburst and medication NyQuil. Citrus Red No. 2 – Used to color the skin of some oranges Yellow No. 6 – Airheads and cosmetic products including Bobbi Brown and MAC lipstick. Yellow No. 5 – Mountain Dew and Doritos Blue No. 1 – Blue Takis chips and MAC eyeshadow Blue No. 2 – Oxycodone and a common bakery McCormick food dye. Green No. 3 – Advil Liquid-gels and Lush's blackberry bath bomb Recent research shows synthetic food colors found in U.S. foods are linked to neurobehavioral problems in children and that the dyes may cause or exacerbate symptoms, particularly hyperactivity. In addition, children may vary widely in their sensitivity to the dyes. 'It is clear that some children are likely to be more adversely affected by food dyes than others,' the California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment reported in 2021. Nevertheless, there is no clear evidence of a direct relationship between food dyes, academic performance, violence or other mental and physical conditions, scientists say. Scientific evidence shows that 'most children have no adverse effects when consuming foods containing color additives,' according to the FDA. The FDA banned the dye known as Red 3 from the nation's food supply in January. It said the dye, also known as erythrosine, caused cancer in lab rats. A federal law requires the administration to ban any additive found to cause cancer in animals. However, officials stressed that the way Red 3 leads to cancer in rats doesn't happen in people. Dr. Peter Lurie, a former FDA official, told the BBC that the only purpose of the artificial food dyes is to "make food companies money.' "Food dyes help make ultra-processed foods more attractive, especially to children, often by masking the absence of a colorful ingredient, like fruit," he said. "We don't need synthetic dyes in the food supply, and no one will be harmed by their absence." With reporting from The Associated Press
The Independent
22-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
RFK Jr. set to ban common food dyes from food supply including colorings for M&Ms, Lucky Charms and Gatorade
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., is expected to announce the Food and Drug Administration's intent to phase out the use of petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the nation's food supply - and its coloring used in many common foods. The Trump administration says the move could mark a 'major step forward' in the drive to 'Make America Healthy Again.' The ban would impact products such as breakfast cereals, candy and snacks. They dyes been tied to neurological problems in some children. 'We've shown now that this directly affects academic performance, violence in the schools, and mental health, as well as physical health,' Kennedy said at a cabinet meeting earlier this month. It is unclear when the changes could be implemented, but Kennedy is slated to give more details later Tuesday. The secretary is anticipated to announce the approval of additional natural dyes, a person familiar with the plans told ABC News. Here are the dyes that could be up on the chopping block and what they're commonly found in: Red No. 40 – Pepsi Blue, Starburst and medication NyQuil. Citrus Red No. 2 – Used to color the skin of some oranges Yellow No. 6 – Airheads and cosmetic products including Bobbi Brown and MAC lipstick. Yellow No. 5 – Mountain Dew and Doritos Blue No. 1 – Blue Takis chips and MAC eyeshadow Blue No. 2 – Oxycodone and a common bakery McCormick food dye. Green No. 3 – Advil Liquid-gels Recent research shows synthetic food colors found in U.S. foods are linked to neurobehavioral problems in children and that the dyes may cause or exacerbate symptoms, particularly hyperactivity. In addition, children may vary widely in their sensitivity to the dyes. 'It is clear that some children are likely to be more adversely affected by food dyes than others,' the California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment reported in 2021. Nevertheless, there is no clear evidence of a direct relationship between food dyes, academic performance, violence or other mental and physical conditions, scientists say. Scientific evidence shows that 'most children have no adverse effects when consuming foods containing color additives,' according to the FDA. The FDA banned the dye known as Red 3 from the nation's food supply in January. It said the dye, also known as erythrosine, caused cancer in lab rats. A federal law requires the administration to ban any additive found to cause cancer in animals. However, officials stressed that the way Red 3 leads to cancer in rats doesn't happen in people. Dr. Peter Lurie, a former FDA official, told the BBC that the only purpose of the artificial food dyes is to "make food companies money.' "Food dyes help make ultra-processed foods more attractive, especially to children, often by masking the absence of a colorful ingredient, like fruit," he said. "We don't need synthetic dyes in the food supply, and no one will be harmed by their absence."
CBS News
19-03-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Spring allergy season is around the corner. Here's what you can do to deal with congestion.
The start of spring kicks off a nasal nuisance for many people. One drug meant to clear congestion has struggled to do its job. Saline rinses, Flonase and antihistamines were the choices of a few people WCCO talked with when asking how best to clear congestion. None of their responses included products containing phenylephrine, the decongestant found in over-the-counter medications like Advil: Sinus Congestion and Pain, or NyQuil: Severe Cold and Flu. Last fall, the FDA declared the drug ineffective when taken as a pill or liquid. "Unfortunately, when you take (phenylephrine) by mouth it's metabolized in the gut and by the liver where very little of the medicine actually makes it back to the nose," Dr. John Sweet, an allergist with Hennepin Healthcare, said. Phenylephrine works by constricting the blood vessels in the nose, leading to less drainage and congestion. There is still one effective way to take the drug. "When it's used in nasal spray, delivered directly to the nose, it can have a very immediate and strong effect in decreasing nasal congestion," he said. Phenylephrine nasal sprays should be used no more than three days in a row. Overuse can make congestion worse. "If you're looking for a quick fix, pseudoephedrine," Sweet said when asked what people should use for immediate relief from congestion. That drug is found in Sudafed, as well as allergy meds that end in "D" like Claritin-D and Allegra-D. Pseudoephedrineis effective when taken orally. Sweet suggests a steroid nasal spray like Flonase (fluticasone), Nasonex (mometasone) and Nasarel (flunisolide) to use daily to relieve congestion. Nasal steroids need at least a week to start working, so begin using them before allergies stuff your nose. Taking antihistamines like Claritin (loratadine), Zyrtec (cetirizine) and Allegra (fexofenadine) in addition to a nasal steroid can bolster your ability to fight congestion. Medicine isn't the only remedy Sweet suggests: Despite the plethora of options, those battling congestion were somewhat annoyed to learn phenylephrine wasn't working as it should have. "With medicine, we're always advancing. We make some assumptions. Sometimes they're wrong. And, with research, we actually can figure out what we're wrong about, and we have to make a little course correction," Sweet said. "Unfortunately, the oral phenylephrine was not as effective as we once thought."
