Into the White: The Unsolved Mystery of the Yuba County Five

A Night of Basketball and Brotherhood

On the evening of February 24, 1978, five friends from Yuba City, California—Gary Mathias, Jack Madruga, Jackie Huett, Ted Weiher, and William Sterling—embarked on a trip to Chico to watch a college basketball game between UC Davis and Chico State. The men, aged between 24 and 32, shared a deep bond, often referred to as "the boys" by their families. Each had mild intellectual disabilities or psychiatric conditions, yet they led active social lives and were enthusiastic about their participation in a Special Olympics basketball tournament scheduled for the following day. After the game, they stopped at Behr's Market in Chico to purchase snacks and drinks, marking the last confirmed sighting of the group alive.

An Unexpected Detour

The following morning, when the men failed to return home, their families reported them missing. Three days later, a forest ranger discovered Madruga's Mercury Montego abandoned on a remote mountain road in the Plumas National Forest, approximately 70 miles from Chico and far off their expected route to Yuba City. The car was in good condition, with a quarter tank of gas remaining, and showed no signs of mechanical failure. Curiously, the vehicle had been left unlocked, and the keys were missing. Inside, investigators found candy wrappers and basketball programs, but no indication of where the men had gone. ...Read More

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