Dubbed the Keddie Cabin murders, this violent event would become one of the most infamous crimes in modern American history. Upon her arrival, she discovered three bodies and a missing sibling. Sadly, this disturbing, violent event has yet to be solved, even 40 years later, leading people to still ask – what drove the perpetrator to commit such a heinous crime, and how did they manage to evade detection?
The Keddie Cabin Murders Crime Scene
On the morning of April 12, 1981, 14-year-old Sheila Sharp returned to her family’s cabin at Keddie Resorts in California, only to discover a horrific scene. The three victims of the Keddie Cabin murders, including her mother, Glenna Sue Sharp, her 15-year-old brother John, and his friend Dana Wingate, had been found dead. Their bodies had been brutally bound with medical and electrical tape and subjected to violent attacks, including stabbing, strangulation, and bludgeoning.
During the Keddie Cabin murders’ investigation, a bizarre and disturbing crime scene was revealed. Specifically, the youngest Sharp boys, Ricky and Greg, and their friend Justin Smartt, miraculously slept through the massacre in an adjoining bedroom. Not only that, but Sheila’s sister, 12-year-old Tina Sharp, was nowhere to be found, adding to the mystery and terror of the event. Unfortunately, the murders remain a chilling and baffling crime with many unanswered questions.
Victims of Bizarre Murders
The Sharp family, seeking a fresh start after Sue’s divorce, relocated to cabin 28 at the Keddie resort in Northern California. While there, the family of six quickly befriended their nearby neighbors. On the night before the Keddie Cabin murders, the family members were scattered:
- Sheila slept over at a friend’s house
- John and his friend Dana attended a party in a nearby town
- Tina briefly visited with her sister before returning home.
Sheila returned home to a gruesome scene the following morning, finding her mother, brother, and his friend lying bloodied on the living room floor. After retreating to her neighbor’s house for help, her friend’s father carefully retrieved the three younger boys through their bedroom window to spare them the traumatic sight. Notably, investigators arrived at the scene to the sight of an overwhelmingly violent and bloody crime scene.
When discussing the tragedy of the Keddie Cabin murders, Deputy Hank Klement reported that blood was splattered everywhere, including on the walls, furniture, ceiling, doors, and even the back steps. While the brutality of the murders was evident, the following investigation would go on to be one of the most complex and baffling in the area’s history.
Painting a Picture of a Bloody Scene
The Keddie Cabin murders revealed a horrific display of violence with John, one of the victims, lying closest to the front door, his hands bound with medical tape and covered in blood, and suffered a slit throat. Nearby, his friend Dana was found on his stomach, with severe head injuries consistent with blunt force trauma, and evidence of manual strangulation. Furthermore, the two victims had been connected with an electrical wire, binding their ankles together.
Although the body of Sheila’s mother was partially covered with a blanket, her injuries were still visible. Found naked from the waist down and a gag secured tightly around her mouth, her injuries were consistent with a violent struggle. According to the Keddie Cabin murder investigation, she had been struck with the butt of a pellet gun and had a cut throat, similar to her son.
She was found naked from the waist down, with a gag secured tightly around her mouth, and had suffered injuries consistent with a violent struggle. The investigation revealed that she had been struck with the butt of a pellet gun and had a cut throat, similar to her son, John. What’s more, all three victims seemed to have suffered blunt-force trauma, likely inflicted with a hammer, and had multiple stab wounds. At the crime scene, a bent steak knife was found on the floor, and a bloody butcher knife and claw hammer lay side by side on a nearby table. To make matters worse, authorities wouldn’t discover that a fourth victim, Tina, was missing until hours later.
Aftermath of Keddie Cabin murders
The investigation into the Keddie Cabin murders was hindered for two reasons. The first was a lack of apparent motive, and the second was that the home showed no signs of forced entry. Sadly, the potential evidence collected by police was unhelpful to the case due to the limitations of pre-DNA testing technology. In a strange turn, the Sacramento Department of Justice sent two special agents from their organized crime unit to look into the investigation rather than homicide detectives.
The Keddie Cabin murders’ investigation led to two main suspects, Martin Smartt and John “Bo” Boudebe, who seemed to receive preferential treatment and were eventually allowed to leave town. Sadly, Tina Sharp’s remains were discovered in a nearby county three years later. The case would be reopened in 2013, with new evidence suggesting a possible larger plot involving organized crime and government corruption.
According to investigators, multiple individuals were involved in the Keddie Cabin murders, including the disposal of evidence and the abduction of Tina. However, even with this new information, the case remains closed with ongoing efforts aimed at bringing justice to the victims and their families.
