But the unsolved murders of a woman, two teenage boys and a girl still haunted him. That family included James Sr.; his wife, Zonita; daughters Alysa and Paula; and son, James Jamie Jr. At 8:05 a.m., Sunday, April 12, the sheriffs dispatch received a call from Jan Albin, co-owner of the Keddie Resort. "Dana was at my house the day before the homicide," he said. Tina's (the sister whose body was not found in the cabin) skull had been found due to an anonymous tip called into the police on the. Man Who 'Targeted Young Women' Convicted of Decades-Old Murders with Help of Investigative Genetic Genealogy, She Saw Her Family Murdered by a Hammer-Wielding Stranger When She Was 3. In 2016, authorities once again were asking that question, reviving the investigation. Go to PEOPLE.com/PEN, or download the app for Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Xumo, Chromecast, Xfinity, iOS and Android devices. But I don't remember that. "It struck this community harder than anything," he said of the killings. KEDDIE (CBS13) Investigators believe they may have found one of the weapons used in a 35-year-old murder mystery. She personally believes that the murders of her family were carried out by Marty Smartt and Bo Boubede. CALLER: And I was just wondering if they thought of the murder up in Keddie up in Plumas County a couple years ago where a 12-year-old girl was never found? * Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Hagwood became sheriff in 2010, and in June 2013 he brought Gamberg back from retirement to organize the boxes of Keddie reports and evidence with an eye toward reviving the case. New evidence has surfaced in the infamous 37-year-old Keddie murders case. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Gamberg thinks the tape was deliberately ignored when it arrived at the Plumas County Sheriffs Office. We still have to live on without our loved ones. Plumas County Sheriff Greg Hagwood described what happened in Cabin 28 in. Main Street Artists Gallery puts the work of two artists in the spotlight for March Debbie Kercmar Boyd and, FRC is joining Plumas County and Plumas Unified School District, with campus remaining closed on Wednesday, March 1st. Now, an Alleged Serial Killer Has Confessed, Police Say, Judge Orders Release of Adnan Syed as Murder Conviction of 'Serial' Subject Is Vacated. In addition to confirming Sue, John, and Dana were dead, the officers concluded they were murdered. A fourth victim, Tina, was missing. The father of Dana Wingate (the friend of the Sharps who was also killed) said in 2001 the police had "stumbled over each other and fouled up the case.". Why did both DOJ and sheriff Doug Thomas skate these key suspects when LE noted they were lying, and Marty FAILED his polygraph? KEDDIE, Calif. It has been 40 years since what is known as the Keddie Murders took place in rural Plumas County. Dana Wingate was at his house just the day before he died. great article! Members of that family, along with Sheila Sharp, 14, claimed they didnt hear a sound from the Sharps house that night. He had known connections with organized crime in Chicago.Boubede also had at least two known aliases as Bobby Lake and John DeSantis, according to the Keddie 28 online site administrator dmac. In one of the bedrooms, authorities found Rick, Greg, and their friend Justin Eason Smartt, unharmed. "Clearly by looking at the hammer you can tell that it's been at that location for a very, very long time," Hagwood said. "If a case needs to be pinned there," Hagwood told PEOPLE at the time, "we'll pin it. Sue Sharp, Johnny Sharp, and Johnny's friend Dana, were bound together by some type of electrical wiring. That said, he understands that some of the individuals who had the experience to work the crime scene and follow the leads werent allowed to do their jobs in 1981. As police continued to search for Tina, other officers brought in multiple suspects. In 1981, the gruesome murder of four in Cabin 28 of the Keddie Resort in Northern California has long been unsolved.or has it?. There are people locally who know more than theyve said, and I believe weve identified some of them, and we know who they are, and we know where they are. By. The Crime Logs mission is bring awareness to crimes which are both solved and unsolved. He also said there are at least six people of interest. Although someone had covered the body of the mother with a blanket, it did little to relieve the horrific scene the teen and law enforcement encountered. Dead were Sheila's mother, brother and a family friend. Those left dead at the scene included the mother, Sue Sharp; her son, John Sharp, 15; and his friend, Dana Wingate, 17. New developments were found when the case was reopened Gamberg organized some boxes of case reports and uncovered evidence from the case that had been shoved aside. How This Serial Killer Was Brought Down By The Same App He Used To Hunt For Victims Jade Townsend The case that took 44 years to be solved: Arlis Perry Fatim Hemraj Mom Attends Birthday Party, Finds Daughter Who Died in House Fire as a Baby Jayden Yugie This Gold-Digger Turned Grave-Digger Lured Men to thier Deaths Help Status Writers Blog Careers Sue had left a broken and abusive marriage and was described as a "quiet woman who loved her kids." To join the discussion, click the link below. Authorities also interviewed Marty's ex-con friend "Bo" Boubede, who had moved in with Marty. Updated 2/11/2020 - Sue Sharp, her son John and his friend Dana were found in the Sharp family cabin beaten and strangled to death in the family room. "For the record, she was none of these things," Sheila wrote. However, Marilyn Smartt did not recall the meeting and also said the two were not friends to her knowledge. He found a letter written by Marty Smartt to his wife reportedly written soon after the murders. Editors note: This story contains information that some readers might find unsettling or objectionable. Hagwood also had a childhood friend who lived in Keddie's cabin 28 long before the Sharps moved in there. The sheriff at the time of the murders, Doug Thomas, is accused of a cover-up in many online theories. 1. And as a deputy he knew what was and wasnt happening with the case. Remember, this was 1981 and DNA collection and processing at crime scenes didnt begin until 1985. It emerged that Marty was angry about Sue's interference in his troubled marriage. ", "I don't know," he said in 2016. Although Sheila wouldnt realize it until later, the order of the bodies was her brother, John, who was closest to the front door. Box after box of evidence, file drawers filled with information and other evidence were all in disarray. "I didn't know what I was supposed to do," she says. Meredith Corporation. "It could have been that I blocked it out, and the shock of it all, too.". she says. Years of No Answers and a Theory of the Crime. On April 12, 1981, 14-year-old Sheila Sharp was returning from a sleepover when she discovered three dead bodies in her family's cabin at the Keddie Resort: her 36-year-old single mother, Sue; her brother Johnny, 15; and Johnny's friend Dana Wingate, 17. "I guess I don't want to relive that," she tells PEOPLE in this week's issue of the memory 35 years ago when, at age 14, she opened the front door of her family's northern California cabin to find their bloodied bodies on the living room floor. As he sorted he found one bag of evidence that was never opened. What occurred next shocked the country: The Disturbing Murders at Keddie Cabin . The Seabolts didnt have a telephone. Both had personal connections to victims of the case. Gamberg also said that much of the physical evidence taken from Cabin 28 is still in storage. WANTED: The Keddie Cabin Killer Episode Summary A family's brutal murder rocks a tiny California town and leaves behind too many unanswered questions. When finding out about Sue's interference with his marriage, Marty reportedly went "ballistic" about it. There have been a lot of rumors floating around and unfortunately people are considering them as the truth, instead of checking and doing the research. Police was on the scene for a short while before they . It was 2013. This was Cabin 27 where the Seabolt family lived. I taught Dana Wingate that year at the highschool. Yes, this case was intentionally made to grow cold. Just three years after reopening the case, Gamberg was talking to the media about new evidence that was recovered namely a hammer that matches one Smartt said went missing before the murders, and a hunting knife, recovered in Keddie. Even his leads in the case were ignored. ", "I have a measure of confidence that we've identified some of them and we're gonna be--we're gonna be coming," he said. 5 People Vanished Along the Snake River Beginning in 1979: Will Police Finally Catch a Serial Killer? Cabin 28 and others in the small Keddie community were allowed to deteriorate in the years following the Keddie murders. According to records, RMX was seen in Keddie Sunday morning, including multiple times pacing at or walking by 28. An imprint matching that of the butt of an 880 rifle was also left on Sues head. "But do I really want to remember?". Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The Keddie Cabin Murders took place on April 12, 1981; Sue Sharp, two of her children, and her son's friend lost their lives. RELATED VIDEO: Exclusive Look at People Magazine Investigates the Keddie Murders. Although two of the main suspects, Smartt and Boubede are dead, they were alive at the time of Tina Sharps discovery. And a crime that was committed so many years earlier doesnt have the priority recent crimes receive, he said. Johnny was face-up, with hands and feet bound by electrical cord that also wrapped around Dana's feet. It sounded within two feet of me, but nobody was around. Search, watch, and cook every single Tasty recipe and video ever - all in one place! Many others suspect the police on the case may have been involved in a cover-up. Perhaps one day they will finally confirm those suspicions but for now, the devastating case remains unsolved. I am not by nature a conspiracy theorist, but there are facts and circumstances the number and the nature of which I cant ignore anymore, Hagwood told People magazine. As a Quincy deputy who knew many of the area residents, understood and had experience in homicide investigation, and as someone who knew at least two of the victims, he believes his input should have been taken seriously. 28 of the Keddie Resort. "I know we are closer than we've ever been.". On April 11, 1981, Sue's 14-year-old daughter, Sheila, spent the night at a friend's cabin, returning home to her own cabin the now infamous cabin number 28to discover her mom, one of her brothers (Johnny, 15) and his friend Dana Wingate (17) brutally murdered. But both Marty Smartt and "Bo" Boubede are now dead, questioned by law enforcement after the killings but never charged. There were weeds as tall as my thighs all around. These were boys he went to school with. Deputy Hank Klement was the first to arrive on scene. Gamberg further tracked down a therapist in Reno, Nev., to whom Marty allegedly confessed after the killings and who told Gamberg he was shocked to learn that investigators at the time didn't use that confession to solve the crimes. Both Hagwood and Gamberg said residents had very little trust or confidence in the sheriffs department before the murders. The problem there is that its become disorganized. Great. The most widely accepted theory involves a love triangle between Martin, Marilyn, and Sue. That includes the possible mishandling of evidence Hagwood and Gamberg were determined to find. "It's very easy to say somebody's guilty when they're dead," he said. ", "It's obviously a worthwhile pursuit," he says. And more developments are anticipated. Three of them were murdered that night, and one of the children remained missing until years later. This case is getting old and unless new eyes come in it will go nowhere. It has been 40 years since the tragedy took place in rural Plumas County. Copyright information and disclaimer here. According to the crime scene report, the boys' bodies on the living room floor were bloodied around their heads and necks. * Stream our true crime show, People Magazine Investigates on Investigation Discovery, which includes an episode on the Keddie cabin murders. Marty was reportedly an abusive husband. Dozens peripherally involved in the case had motive, if not opportunity, yet Law enforcement immediately zeroed in on their prime suspects then, seemingly inexplicably, ignored them. Sheila ran screaming back to the neighboring cabin where she had spent the night. Her skull had been found 50 miles away in a different county. The theories allege that he was a close friend to Marty Smartt at the time. Broke my heart. A bent steak knife was found on the floor, and a bloody butcher knife and claw hammer were found on a small wooden table near the entryway to the kitchen. It wasnt followed, he said. Between them lies the forgotten tape of the anonymous phone tip left in 1984, rediscovered in 2013. He writes under dmac and Dee Mack but his name is David McNarie. Sue's 12-year-old daughter Tina was taken from the cabin, but her decomposed remains wouldn't be found for another three years. Hes had the DNA for several years, but it wasnt until recently that he obtained needed samples and found the match. In many ways there was even less trust following the deaths. The following participated in the planning and/or execution of these murders: Sheila Sharp, Glenna Meeks, Marilyn and Marty Smartt, Bo Boubede, Dee Jay Lake, Wade and Richard Meeks, John Blaine Greubert, Tony Garedakis. Although Smartt and Boubede fled Plumas County shortly after interviews with DOJ, its known that Smartt allegedly lived in Paradise at the time of that phone call, according to dmacs research. The Scene Suggests More Than One Killer. Hagwood commented on the theory of it being a cover-up: "It has brought to light some amazing timelines, histories, and what some may call 'coincidence.' She ultimately settled into the small town of Keddie nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains only five miles. She looked at me and smiled and in my head I heard the name, Tina.. Sharp's oldest daughter, Sheila, had been at a sleepover when she returned to the family home, Cabin 28, to find her murdered family. In Gambergs opinion, You could take someone just coming out of the academy and theyd have done a better job, of investigating the case. / CBS Sacramento. Please enter valid email address to continue. Marilyn, Marty, and Bo were only after Sue. Keddie Cabin Murders Solved? It was tested for trace DNA or blood residue. The possible motive: Marty was married to Marilyn Smartt, the mother of Justin Smartt, who was one of the kids that was found alive in the cabin. In earlier years, before the Sharps moved in, he spent nights there with a friend and his family. Although still open, it wasnt a priority. After the slayings, Sheila, Greg and Rick were sent out of state to live with an aunt. Some also consider Marilyn a conspirator as well. Why were corrupt DOJ BOCCA agents immediately assigned to this rural case? I don't think either one of them were involved.". "They can't defend themselves. "My mother's kindness and grace also extended beyond her own family, which may have ultimately been her downfall.". At one point, Thomas did say he gave one session of advice to the couple but it was before the murders. On April 12, 1981, a group of 7 people went to sleep in Cabin 28 at the Keddie Resort Lodge in California. "There is not an expiration date on homicides, and to the extent that we have surviving siblings and family members, it is our fundamental obligation to them to understand who did this and why. Police was on the scene for a short while before they realized that Sharps other daughter, Tina, was missing from the home. It was April 11, 1981 when Sheila Sharp, 14, opened the door to her familys two-bedroom cabin and discovered the bodies of her mother, older brother and family friend in the small living room. Kindness May Have Ultimately Been Her Downfall, Lone Survivor of 1984 Colorado Hammer Killer Attack Misses the Family He Stole: 'Inside I Cry Every Day', Inside the Investigation That Found Holly Marie Clouse 40 Years After She Vanished and Parents Were Murdered, Fla. Woman, 89, Was Sexually Assaulted and Murdered 28 Years Ago Now Police Say Neighbor Killed Her, Kansas Man Charged with 1980 Murder of Nursing Student, DNA Taken from Truck's Door Handle in Washington Leads to Arrest 34 Years After Wisconsin Mom's Killing, Daughter of Ohio Mom Beaten and Set on Fire in 1991 Lived Across the Street from Mother's Alleged Killer, JonBent Ramsey's Murder to Be Investigated by Cold Case Team in New Probe Into Unsolved Killing, PEOPLE Picks the Best New Books of the Week. "Whoever did this and there was more than one person had to have blood all over them," said Doug Thomas, who was the Plumas County sheriff at the time of the murder and led the investigation. The morning of April 12, 1981, Glenna Sue Sharp and her kids, Tina and John, and John's friend, Dana Wingate, were brutally murdered inside house #28 in Keddie, California. Blood wasnt confined to the floor and on or around the victims. The tape was never admitted into evidence, and it was in fact found at the bottom of a box. She said she learned of it long afterward by investigators, but she recognized her ex-husband's handwriting. His department was short of funding and he was short staffed. How did Doug Thomas keep Gamberg out of the investigation if Gamberg was terminated in March 1981 and wasnt reinstated until 1983 (2 years after Thomas resigned)? On the night of April 11, 1981, four people were brutally murdered in Cabin 28 of the Keddie resort in Northern California. Hagwood's mother was a teacher who had Tina in class. The one he missed or more accurately wasnt allowed to cover was the Keddie murder case, he said recently. But because the aunt already had several children, the Sharp kids were eventually placed in foster care first together and later apart. A few Keddie residents believe that when Cabin 28 still existed, it became haunted after the Sharp murders. "But rarely did I speak to the family about it. Charles Montaldo. A psychic online claims she visited the house and could hear the screams of the victims. Hagwood, in his third year of office, had many priorities to contend with inside his department and in the county. Unsolved Mystery of the Keddie Cabin Murders by Joe Turner 1 Listen to this article. In the larger community of Quincy, with a population of just under 2,000, Sheriff Hagwood was a schoolmate of victims Johnny and Dana, and the summer before the murders they'd all worked together as teenagers on a painting crew. The throats of Sue and her son were cut. "She's a hard one to talk about," Sheila says. The Keddie Murders Revisited Plumas County Sheriff's Office Probable murder weapons for the Keddie slaying discovered and submitted as evidence in 2016. Her remains surfaced years later. As I listened for more sounds, I suddenly found myself severely short of breath. more. But that rain can't wash away the horror of what happened in the now-empty lot in the tiny resort town of Keddie. That night I dreamt of a young girl, walking around the empty site. The girl's skull was found in the woods three years later, some 50 miles away in another county. And Ive seen speculation being treated as fact over the years, even when it can be discredited by the facts that get ignored. The therapist also reportedly told Gamberg that he was surprised the investigators at the time of the murder hadn't used the confession against Marty. The bottoms of Sues bare feet and the soles of one of the boys shoes were also covered in blood suggesting they were mobile and stepped in it at some point. Dana suffered multiple head injuries and was manually strangled. That should shut a lot of traps, and destroy many of the rumors that have floated around for 37 years. Keddie murders: Keddie: 1981-04-11: 4: . 'People Magazine Investigates': Did Pam Hupp Stab Her Friend More Than 50 Times? Unsolved murders have a way of weighing on a community, the place forever haunted and the neighbors always left wondering. Keddie will never be the same because of those murders, and after visiting where it happened, I dont think I will be either, Kendall whispered. The two men, both now dead, are also the primary suspects in the narrative taking shape by the revived investigation, although the sheriff at the time, Doug Thomas, tells PEOPLE that no evidence tied either to the crimes when they occurred. From 1974 until his retirement in 1994, he worked all but one of Plumas Countys cases. It's a case that's gathered far more dust than clues over the years. But for some, Keddie is synonymous with murder and despair. A vital thread, Gamberg said, is who knew about Tina's remains placed in an isolated wooded area in neighboring Butte County and who may have helped to put them there. The area probably wouldnt have seemed creepy to an uneducated bystander, she said. But the unsolved murders of a woman, two teenage boys and a girl still haunted him. Although a lot of potential evidence was collected and catalogued, very little worthwhile information was realized from the scene. It's a believe long-shared by the victims' family. And 2022 could be the year this murder finally gets solved. says Sheila, now a 50-year-old mother of three and grandmother of two. She left behind a broken marriage with a military man, now deceased, whom Sheila says was abusive to his wife and two daughters. They're the ones that have kept me going. Episode Info Also note how close the cabin is to its neighbor. In 2004 the now infamous Cabin 28 was condemned and demolished. He wonders if DOJ protected him. He was their coach in martial arts and other activities. But knowing the details, the minutiae of the crimeit was not a pleasant place to be. The murders took place in house No. Although dmac and Gamberg have some differences of opinion of just what happened in Cabin 28, Gamberg has come to respect dmacs work. yeah, both of them had records," he said. Public File for KMAX-TV / Good Day Sacramento. It haunted people. People Magazine Investigates' episode on the Keddie cabin murders airs Monday (10 p.m. US residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data. "It's my belief that there were more than two people who were involved in the totality of the crime--the disposal of the evidence and the abduction of the little girl," Hagwood said.