Emma Darlene Rice Boles, aged 37, tragically lost her life on August 14, 1965, in Crestline, California. She, along with her husband James and their two sons, Bobby and Tommy, were found dead in their newly built cabin in the San Bernardino Mountains. The family had planned a weekend getaway to their cabin, but when they failed to return home as scheduled, Darlene's brother, Floyd Rice, grew concerned and contacted the authorities. Upon arriving at the cabin, Floyd discovered the lifeless bodies of the entire family, including their dog, all of whom had been shot multiple times.
The investigation into the Boles family's murder revealed that they had been shot with a .22 caliber weapon, and the crime scene indicated that the killer had used a silencer, as no neighbors reported hearing gunshots. The family's car was also missing, which led investigators to believe that the perpetrator had stolen it to flee the scene. Despite extensive interviews with neighbors, family members, and co-workers, the case remained unsolved for years.
Initially, investigators had a few suspects, but most were eventually eliminated. One of the primary suspects was George Robert Stewart, who was wanted in Alabama for a different murder. Stewart allegedly failed a polygraph test related to the Boles case, but there was insufficient evidence to charge him. Decades later, on the 40th anniversary of the murders, a new detective reviewed the case and concluded that Stewart had an alibi for the time of the murders, casting doubt on his involvement.
The case remains one of Crestline's most haunting unsolved mysteries, with no arrests or convictions made. The tragic loss of the Boles family continues to be a somber reminder of the brutal crime that took place in their peaceful mountain retreat. Despite the passage of time, the investigation into their deaths remains open, with authorities still hoping to one day bring the perpetrator to justice.
