The Keddie murders were an unsolved quadruple homicide that took place on the night of April 11–12, 1981, at Cabin 28 in the Keddie Resort, an unincorporated community in Plumas County, California.
The victims were:
- Glenna Susan “Sue” Sharp (36 years old)
- John Steven Sharp (15 years old, Sue’s son)
- Dana Hall Wingate (17 years old, John’s friend)
- Tina Louise Sharp (12 years old, Sue’s daughter), who was abducted and whose remains were found three years later.
Key details and theories
The bodies of Sue, John, and Dana were found brutally murdered, tied with electrical cords and medical tape.
Sue was stabbed, and her throat was slashed. John also had his throat slashed. Dana was manually strangled and suffered head injuries.
Two bloodied knives and a hammer were found at the scene, believed to be the murder weapons.
Three other children present in the cabin (Sue’s two younger sons and their friend) were unharmed.
Suspects: Martin Smartt (a neighbor) and his friend John “Bo” Boubede (an ex-convict) are the primary suspects named in connection with the murders.
Martin Smartt wrote a letter to his wife stating: “I’ve paid the price of your love & now I’ve bought it with four people’s lives”.
A hammer belonging to Martin Smartt, resembling a weapon used in the murders, was found in a nearby pond in 2016.
Theories: Two main theories circulate regarding the motive behind the murders:
Love triangle: Some believe the murders stemmed from a love triangle involving Sue, Martin, and Martin’s wife.
Drug trafficking: Another theory suggests a connection to drug trafficking, possibly involving Martin and Bo.
Investigation Issues: The investigation has faced criticism for crucial mistakes made in the initial stages, such as evidence not being logged, the crime scene being potentially tampered with, and leads not being adequately followed up on.
New Evidence: In 2018, it was announced that DNA evidence recovered from a piece of tape at the crime scene matched a known living suspect.
The Keddie murders remain officially unsolved, but investigators are reportedly closer to solving the case. Anyone with information can contact the Plumas County Sheriff’s office at (530) 283-6360
