>> very ba vizarbizarre, rod. >> reporter: sheryl hurd covered the cover. >> we still don't know where denise huskins is. we're really not sure what her boyfriend, aaron quinn, is telling police. all we know is they can't find her. >> reporter: then the story took another whiplash turn. about 45 hours after denise was reported missing, police made a dramatic announcement. >> approximately 10:30 this morning, ms. denise huskins was located safely. >> reporter: it seemed over. denise's cousin told knbc how thrilled everyone was. >> you hear these stories all the time and you watch tv about them. you never know. i was just happy to hear that she was alive and safe and home. >> reporter: but to police and reporters, all professional skeptics, this story hadn't smelled right from the start and denise's sudden reappearance did nothing to change that. >> she's alive. she's well and they found her.