Do you know who committed the \Keddie Cabin Murders\ in 1981?
On April 11, 1981, 15-year-old John Sharp was one of the victims of a brutal and still-unsolved quadruple homicide in Keddie, California, known as the Keddie Cabin murders. John, along with his mother, Sue Sharp, and his friend, Dana Wingate, were found murdered in Cabin 28 at the Keddie Resort. The crime was particularly vicious, with all three victims suffering from blunt force trauma and multiple stab wounds. John and Dana were also bound, and their throats were slashed. Meanwhile, Sue had been gagged with a bandana and tape. Another Sharp sibling, Tina, was missing from the scene and her remains were only found three years later in a remote area of Butte County, approximately 50 miles away from Keddie.
The crime scene itself presented a gruesome and chaotic picture. The bodies were discovered by John’s sister, Sheila Sharp, who had spent the night with neighbors and returned home on the morning of April 12 to find the horrific scene. Authorities found evidence indicating that the killings had all occurred in the living room of the cabin. Several weapons, including two knives and a hammer, were found at the scene, some of which appeared to have come from the cabin itself. The manner in which the victims were tied up and the variety of weapons used led investigators to suspect that more than one person might have been involved in the killings.
Suspicion soon fell on two men: Martin "Marty" Smartt, a neighbor, and his friend, John "Bo" Boubede, who had been staying with the Smartt family. Marty reportedly expressed anger towards Sue Sharp shortly before the murders, and both men had a history with law enforcement. Marty’s wife, Marilyn, also later reported that Marty had confessed to the murders during a therapy session, and that she had found a bloody jacket which she believed belonged to Tina. Despite these revelations, neither Marty nor Bo were charged, and both left the Keddie area shortly after the murders. Marty moved to Reno, Nevada, and Bo passed away in 1988.
The investigation into the Keddie murders has been criticized for its mishandling of evidence and lack of direction. The initial investigation was plagued by issues, including the improper handling of crime scene protocols and overlooked evidence. Over the years, there have been various developments, including the discovery of a hammer in 2016 that matched one Marty claimed to have lost. Additionally, recent forensic advancements have allowed investigators to examine DNA evidence collected from the scene, but despite these efforts, no arrests have been made, and the case remains unsolved to this day.
The Keddie murders are one of the most haunting cold cases in California, and while there have been numerous theories, from personal grudges to involvement of multiple assailants, the truth remains elusive. The case continues to generate interest, and investigators are still hopeful that advancements in forensic science or new leads may eventually bring justice for John Sharp and the other victims.
If you have any information about the Keddie Cabin murders, the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office encourages you to come forward.
