Case overview
On the night of April 11, 1981, four people were killed inside cabin 28 at the Keddie Resort in rural Northern California. The victims, Sue Sharp, her son John, his friend Dana Wingate, and later Sue’s daughter Tina, were found in a scene marked by extreme violence, yet the case remains officially unsolved more than four decades later.
The setting and the victims
Keddie was a small mountain community in Plumas County, California, built around a former railroad resort. By 1981, the cabins were rented to families, many of them struggling economically. Sue Sharp, 36, had recently separated from her husband and moved into Keddie cabin 28 with her five children in late 1980. Neighbors described her as quiet, protective, and working to rebuild her life.
John Sharp, 15, was staying in the cabin that night with his friend Dana Wingate, also 15. Sue’s daughter Tina, 12, was home as well. Two younger Sharp children, Greg and Rick, were asleep in an adjacent bedroom. Two boys from a neighboring cabin were also spending the night and were found unharmed the next morning.
Discovery of the scene
On the morning of April 12, 1981, one of the boys who had slept in the Keddie cabin woke and discovered the bodies of Sue Sharp, John Sharp, and Dana Wingate in the living room. All three had been bound and killed with a combination of blunt force trauma and stab wounds. Weapons recovered at the scene included a hammer and kitchen knives. Tina Sharp was not at the scene, and authorities treated her disappearance as part of the crime.
Sheila Sharp, Sue’s 14-year-old daughter, had spent the night at a neighbor’s cabin. She returned home that morning and ran to alert neighbors and law enforcement. The Plumas County Sheriff’s Office responded and secured the scene.
The timeline and initial response
Investigators determined the killings occurred late on April 11 or in the early hours of April 12. The proximity of other cabins, combined with the violence of the attack, raised questions about whether neighbors heard anything. Some residents later reported hearing muffled sounds or seeing unfamiliar vehicles near the resort that night, but none contacted law enforcement at the time.
The scene itself raised questions. Despite the violence, two children sleeping in a nearby bedroom were untouched. The positioning of the bodies, the use of multiple weapons, and the lack of forced entry suggested the victims may have known their attackers or that entry was gained through unlocked doors, common in the rural community.
Tina Sharp’s absence became central to the investigation. Authorities considered whether she had been abducted during the attack or had fled and was hiding. Search efforts included ground teams, aerial surveillance, and interviews throughout the surrounding area.
Discovery of Tina Sharp’s remains
On April 22, 1984, more than three years after the murders, a bottle collector found human remains in Camp Eighteen, a remote area roughly 60 miles from Keddie. Dental records confirmed the remains were Tina Sharp’s. The condition of the remains made it difficult to determine a precise cause of death, but her disappearance was reclassified as a homicide connected to the Keddie cabin murders.
The location where Tina’s body was found became a major investigative question. It was not a site she would have traveled to on her own, and the timeline suggested her remains had been placed there after the original crime. Whether she was killed at the cabin and moved later or held elsewhere before being killed remained unresolved.
Persons of interest and questioned evidence
Investigators pursued multiple persons of interest from the beginning. One of the most scrutinized individuals was Martin Smartt, who lived in a neighboring cabin with his wife and had reportedly exhibited erratic behavior in the weeks before the murders. Smartt and his associate, John Boubede, were interviewed multiple times. Witnesses reported tensions between Smartt and Sue Sharp, and some alleged Smartt had made threatening or inappropriate remarks.
A hammer matching the one used in the crime was reportedly linked to Smartt’s cabin, though the chain of custody and forensic testing were later questioned. A handwritten note discovered during a search of Smartt’s belongings appeared to reference the crime, but its evidentiary value was disputed due to unclear context and handling procedures.
Despite these leads, no charges were filed. Smartt and Boubede both left the area shortly after the murders. Smartt died in 2000, and Boubede died in 1988. Other theories emerged over the years, including possible involvement by individuals connected to organized crime or drug activity in the region, though none led to prosecutions.
Forensic gaps and lost materials
The investigation was hampered by problems in evidence collection and preservation. Key items, including recorded interviews and physical evidence, were reported missing or lost in subsequent years. Some forensic materials were not tested using modern DNA techniques until decades later, and when they were, the results were either inconclusive or not publicly disclosed in full.
In 2013, the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office announced it was reopening the case and reexamining evidence with newer technology. Investigators sent items for DNA analysis and conducted fresh interviews with surviving witnesses and persons of interest. In 2016, a special investigator working on the case announced renewed focus on Smartt and Boubede but acknowledged that prosecuting the case remained difficult due to the death of both suspects and evidentiary gaps.
Impact on the community
The Keddie cabin murders left a lasting mark on the small community. Parents became more protective, and unease persisted for years. The Keddie Resort eventually closed, and many of the cabins were demolished. For the Sharp family, the trauma was compounded by decades of waiting for answers.
Surviving family members, particularly Sheila Sharp, have spoken publicly about the crime and their frustration with the pace and handling of the investigation. Sheila collaborated on a book about the case and advocated for continued investigative efforts. The Sharp children who survived the attack grew up under the shadow of the crime, with some choosing to speak about their experience and others preferring privacy.
Legal and procedural questions
The case has been cited in discussions about investigative practices in rural jurisdictions with limited resources. Plumas County had a small sheriff’s department, and the scale of the crime exceeded typical local capacity. Early coordination with state authorities was criticized as insufficient, and later reviews highlighted missed opportunities in forensic work and witness follow-up.
The passage of time also raised statute of limitations concerns for related offenses and complicated efforts to hold anyone accountable. Even if new evidence emerged, prosecutors would face challenges related to witness availability, chain of custody, and the admissibility of decades-old materials.
Current status
No one has been charged in connection with the Keddie cabin murders. The Plumas County Sheriff’s Office continues to classify the case as open and unsolved. Investigators have stated they remain open to new information and continue reviewing evidence periodically.
The case has been featured in multiple true crime documentaries and podcasts, drawing renewed public interest and occasional tips. Family members continue to push for resolution, and online communities dedicated to true crime have kept attention on the case through forums and social media.
Where to look next
- Documentary: “Cabin 28: The Keddie Murders” (Investigation Discovery)
- Documentary: “People Magazine Investigates: Cabin 28” (Investigation Discovery)
- Book: “Cabin 28: Horror in the Woods” by Josh Hancock
- Podcast: “Keddie Murders” (Generation Why)
