In the quiet woods of Northern California lies the once-peaceful town of Keddie, a secluded resort community that became infamous overnight due to one of the most brutal and baffling murder cases in American history. On the surface, Keddie was the kind of place where people sought refuge from city chaos—tucked away in Plumas County, it seemed like the perfect retreat. But on April 12, 1981, that tranquility was shattered forever when Cabin 28 became the scene of a massacre so gruesome, it would haunt the town—and the nation—for decades.
That morning, 14-year-old Sheila Sharp returned home after a sleepover next door. Her family had been living in Cabin 28, a small wooden structure that now stood soaked in silence. As she stepped inside, the silence was replaced by sheer horror. The bodies of her mother, Glenna “Sue” Sharp, her brother John (15), and his friend Dana Wingate (17), lay violently slain in the living room. They had been bound with electrical cords and medical tape, beaten with a hammer, and stabbed multiple times. Blood stained the walls, the carpet, and even the furniture—suggesting a prolonged and extremely violent struggle. Sheila immediately fled and alerted neighbors, kicking off what should have been a high-priority investigation. But instead, the case quickly fell into a morass of confusion, missteps, and lost evidence.
What made the scene even more chilling was that three young boys—including Sheila’s two younger brothers, Rick and Greg, and their friend Justin—were found alive and untouched in a nearby bedroom. Even more unsettling: Sheila’s 12-year-old sister Tina was nowhere to be found. Her disappearance added a haunting layer of mystery. Was she kidnapped? Was she a witness? And if she was taken alive, why?
As investigators arrived, the mishandling of the crime scene set the tone for the investigation that followed. Law enforcement officers allowed multiple people to enter the cabin before it was properly secured, potentially contaminating evidence. Crucial items went uncollected, and leads were either ignored or pursued too late. No murder weapon was found, and there were no clear signs of forced entry—implying the killer or killers may have been known to the family. The disorganization led to critical delays in progress.
Despite the mayhem inside the cabin, neighbors reported hearing nothing suspicious that night. A composite sketch based on conflicting accounts was created, depicting two men seen near the cabin the night of the murders. Still, nothing definitive came from the sketch. It wasn’t until three years later, in 1984, that a disturbing break came in the case. In a remote area known as Camp Eighteen, roughly 50 miles from Keddie, a bottle scavenger stumbled across human remains. Forensic analysis confirmed the worst fears: the remains belonged to Tina Sharp. Alongside her bones were a pair of jeans, a blanket, and a small human jawbone. How she got there, how she died, and why she was taken remain questions with no answers.
Years later, suspicion focused on two local men: Martin Smartt and John “Bo” Boubede. Martin was the stepfather of Justin Smartt, one of the boys who was inside Cabin 28 that night. Allegedly, Martin had confessed to a therapist that he had been involved in the murders. He also had a history of domestic violence, and it was rumored that Sue Sharp had encouraged Martin’s wife to leave him. Adding to the suspicion, both men abruptly left town shortly after the killings and were never formally charged. It is widely believed they were not properly investigated at the time.
The possibility of Justin having witnessed the crime added another complex layer. His statements were inconsistent, possibly due to trauma or influence. In one version, he claimed to have seen two men commit the murders while he watched in horror, pretending to be asleep. Despite these shocking revelations, neither Martin nor Bo was arrested, and the case gradually went cold.
Years turned into decades. But the pain of that night never faded for the surviving Sharp family members or the small town of Keddie. For many, the tragedy became a symbol of justice delayed—and perhaps denied. In recent years, however, there has been a renewed effort to bring closure. Plumas County investigators reopened the case in the 2010s, taking advantage of modern forensic technology. A rusted claw hammer matching the description of one of the missing murder weapons was found in a local pond. New DNA evidence was collected from items found at the scene and is undergoing testing. According to officials, the evidence strongly supports the theory that multiple people were involved in the murders and cover-up.
As of now, the case remains officially unsolved, yet investigators claim they are closer than ever to cracking it. They believe the case is not just solvable but solvable soon. Still, no formal charges have been made, and the people believed to be involved have either passed away or remain elusive. The tragedy of Cabin 28 still looms over the town of Keddie like a dark cloud.
The Keddie Cabin Murders stand as a chilling testament to the horrors that can unfold in the most unlikely places. It’s a case that continues to fascinate, frustrate, and terrify. How could such a brutal crime go unpunished? Why did law enforcement fail so significantly in those early days? Was it small-town incompetence, or something more sinister?
Beyond the blood and mystery lies a deeper story—a mother who moved her family to Keddie for a better life, only to be met with unspeakable violence. Children left orphaned. A community left traumatized. And an entire nation left wondering how a case with so many clues, witnesses, and potential suspects could remain a mystery for more than 40 years.
To this day, Cabin 28 has been torn down, and nothing remains at its site. But its legend continues to grow, haunting true crime enthusiasts and investigators alike. The search for answers is not just about justice for Sue, John, Dana, and Tina—it’s about restoring faith in the very systems meant to protect us. The Keddie Cabin Murders may be a cold case, but the trail is still warm enough for those determined to uncover the truth.
If ever a case demanded answers, it is this one. For now, the silence in Keddie speaks louder than words.