The Keddie Cabin Murders - California 1981
On the night of April 11-12, 1981, Glenna 'Sue' Sharp, her son John Sharp, and John's friend Dana Wingate were brutally murdered in Cabin 28 of the Keddie Resort in Keddie, California. Sue's 12-year-old daughter, Tina Sharp, was abducted from the scene and her remains were found three years later. The case remains unsolved, though new evidence and leads have emerged in recent years, with authorities stating they are closer than ever to a resolution.
Timeline
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Track this story2026
5 updates
2026
5 updatesForensic examination in the Keddie Cabin Murders case confirmed that a BB gun was involved, in addition to two different hammers.
via youtube.com
Former Plumas County Sheriff Greg Hagwood and investigators believe that people connected to the Keddie Cabin Murders case are still alive.
A video summary of the investigation revealed that the Plumas County Sheriff's Department had eight investigators on the case, released sketches of two unidentified men seen before the murders, and forensic examination confirmed two different hammers were involved.
via youtube.com
Investigator Mike Gamberg was brought out of retirement in 2013 by Plumas County Sheriff Greg Hagwood to re-examine the case. Furthermore, in 2016, investigators found a hammer believed to be the murder weapon.
New DNA evidence has emerged, pointing to other living suspects in the Keddie Cabin Murders, even as the initial suspects, Martin Smartt and Bo Boudebe, are deceased.
2025
4 updates
2025
4 updatesThe initial crime scene of the 1981 Keddie Cabin murders was reportedly mishandled, leading to the loss or destruction of key evidence and admitted errors by law enforcement.
via reddit.com
An anonymous call identifying the skull of 12-year-old Tina Sharp reportedly disappeared from police records, highlighting initial investigative errors in the case.
via thoughtco.com
The victims of the Keddie Cabin Murders were identified as Sue Sharp, her son John, his friend Dana Wingate, and Tina Sharp, whose remains were later found. Initial suspects in the investigation included Martin Smartt and John Boubede.
Local author David Keller published a new book titled 'Solving Keddie' in January 2025, which is the culmination of 20 years of research into the 1981 Keddie homicides.
via plumasnews.com
2024
2 updates
2024
2 updatesInvestigators have tested the hammer and knife for DNA evidence in recent years.
via 10minutemurder.com·youtube.com·razs-midnight-macabre.com
Tina Sharp's remains were found in 1984, three years after the initial murders. Additionally, a mysterious phone call was received by the Butte County Sheriff's Office shortly after the incident.
via youtube.com
2021
1 update
2021
1 updateIn 2021, detectives stated they believe they are closer than ever to solving the Keddie Murders, acknowledging crucial mistakes made in the initial 1981 investigation. Additionally, in 2016, investigators found a recording of a man believed to be one of the killers or an accomplice.
2018
2 updates
2018
2 updatesNew evidence in the 37-year-old Keddie murders case includes DNA from medical tape found at the scene matching a living suspect, discovered in 2018. A hammer believed to be the murder weapon was also found in a nearby pond in 2016, providing renewed hope for solving the quadruple murder.
via plumasnews.com
Plumas County Sheriff's special investigator Mike Gamberg announced that DNA evidence recovered from a piece of medical tape at the crime scene matched that of a known living suspect.
via thoughtco.com·reddit.com·en.wikipedia.org·allthatsinteresting.com·people.com
2016
3 updates
2016
3 updatesA 2016 article highlighted the discovery of a letter from primary suspect Martin Smartt to his wife, containing the statement 'I've paid the price ...', which was not previously reported in the existing events.
via people.com
The revived investigation into the Keddie murders led to the identification of at least six 'persons of interest' and involved a mysterious phone call to the sheriff's office.
A hammer, matching the description of one a suspect (Martin Smartt) claimed to have lost, was discovered in a local pond and taken into evidence.
via thoughtco.com·reddit.com·en.wikipedia.org·allthatsinteresting.com·people.com
1984
2 updates
1984
2 updatesForensic pathologists confirmed the remains found in April belonged to Tina Sharp.
via thoughtco.com·reddit.com·en.wikipedia.org·allthatsinteresting.com·people.com
Three years after the murders, a bottle collector discovered the skull and other remains of Tina Sharp at Camp 18 near Feather Falls in Butte County, approximately 62 miles from Keddie.
via thoughtco.com·reddit.com·en.wikipedia.org·allthatsinteresting.com·people.com
1981
2 updates
1981
2 updatesThe FBI, initially investigating Tina Sharp's disappearance as an abduction, 'backed off' the search, stating the California State Department of Justice was handling the investigation adequately.
via thoughtco.com·reddit.com·en.wikipedia.org·allthatsinteresting.com·people.com
Sheila Sharp, Sue's 14-year-old daughter, returned home from a sleepover and discovered the bodies of her mother, brother John, and Dana Wingate in the living room of Cabin 28. Her younger brothers, Rick and Greg, and their friend Justin Smartt were found unharmed in an adjacent bedroom. Tina Sharp was missing.
via thoughtco.com·reddit.com·en.wikipedia.org·allthatsinteresting.com·people.com
Story began · 45 years, 6 mo ago