{
  "title": "Keddie Cabin Murders: The Evidence That Never Closed the Case",
  "dek": "In 1981, four people were killed at Cabin 28 in Keddie, California. A missing child’s remains, a disputed letter, and later forensic developments have kept the case alive.",
  "slug": "keddie-cabin-murders-unsolved",
  "canonical_url": "https://crimesandmyths.com/case/keddie-cabin-murders-unsolved",
  "published_at": "2026-10-19T14:52:35.073Z",
  "updated_date": "2026-11-02T12:37:55.512000",
  "word_count": 1541,
  "direct_answer": "Four people were killed at Cabin 28 in Keddie, California, during the night of April 11 to 12, 1981, while Tina Sharp disappeared and was later found dead. Later investigators focused on Martin Smartt and John Boubede, citing a troubling letter and reported DNA evidence, but no charges or convictions resolved the case.",
  "key_facts": [
    {
      "label": "Crime",
      "value": "Quadruple homicide at Cabin 28, Keddie Resort"
    },
    {
      "label": "Date",
      "value": "Night of April 11 to 12, 1981"
    },
    {
      "label": "Victims",
      "value": "Sue Sharp, John Sharp, Dana Wingate, and Tina Sharp"
    },
    {
      "label": "Tina Sharp",
      "value": "Skeletal remains discovered near Camp Eighteen in 1984"
    },
    {
      "label": "Primary suspects",
      "value": "Martin Smartt and John “Bo” Boubede"
    },
    {
      "label": "Case status",
      "value": "Unsolved cold case with later evidence under examination"
    }
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "question": "What happened in the Keddie Cabin murders?",
      "answer": "Sue Sharp, John Sharp, and Dana Wingate were killed at Cabin 28 in Keddie during the night of April 11 to 12, 1981. Tina Sharp was missing and her skeletal remains were found near Camp Eighteen in 1984."
    },
    {
      "question": "Who are the main suspects in the Keddie murders?",
      "answer": "Martin Smartt and John “Bo” Boubede were identified in later accounts as primary suspects. Neither was convicted, and the available record does not establish their guilt in court."
    },
    {
      "question": "What evidence links Martin Smartt to the case?",
      "answer": "A letter attributed to Martin Smartt included the line, “I've paid a price for your love, and now that I've bought it with four lives you tell me we're through. Great!” Later investigators viewed the wording as potentially incriminating, but its context and legal significance remain unresolved."
    },
    {
      "question": "Was DNA found in the Keddie case?",
      "answer": "A secondary report stated that DNA from a piece of tape at the scene matched a known living suspect in 2018. The available material does not show that the reported match led to charges or a conviction."
    },
    {
      "question": "Why is the Keddie case still unsolved?",
      "answer": "The case is decades old, evidence and witness accounts have limitations, and investigators later identified overlooked tips and physical evidence. The leading suspect theory has not produced an official charge or conviction."
    }
  ],
  "structured_block": {
    "timeline": [
      {
        "date": "April 11 to 12, 1981",
        "event": "A quadruple homicide occurred at Cabin 28 of the Keddie Resort."
      },
      {
        "date": "April 11, 1984",
        "event": "Skeletal remains identified as Tina Sharp were discovered near Camp Eighteen."
      },
      {
        "date": "2004",
        "event": "Cabin 28 was demolished."
      },
      {
        "date": "2016",
        "event": "The case received renewed investigative attention and previously overlooked evidence was revisited."
      },
      {
        "date": "2018",
        "event": "A reported DNA result from tape at the scene matched a known living suspect."
      }
    ],
    "persons": [
      "Sue Sharp",
      "John Sharp",
      "Dana Wingate",
      "Tina Sharp",
      "Martin Smartt",
      "John “Bo” Boubede",
      "Mike Gamberg",
      "Greg Hagwood"
    ],
    "evidence_status": "The case includes a reported DNA match from tape, a letter attributed to Martin Smartt, a recovered knife submitted for FBI analysis, and an overlooked audio tip. The available record does not establish a conclusive result or conviction.",
    "current_status": "Unsolved cold case with renewed investigative interest and no convictions.",
    "sources": [
      {
        "title": "The Chilling Unsolved Keddie Cabin Quadruple Homicide in Keddie California",
        "url": "https://citytowner.com/keddie-ca-cabin-murders",
        "publisher": "CityTowner",
        "tier": "tertiary"
      },
      {
        "title": "The Keddie Murders: Potential evidence continues to surface",
        "url": "https://kolotv.com/content/news/The-Keddie-Murders-Potential-evidence-continues-to-surface-382174881.html",
        "publisher": "KOLO-TV",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      {
        "title": "Keddie murders",
        "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keddie_murders",
        "publisher": "Wikipedia",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      {
        "title": "Plumas County’s Keddie murders revisited, Part III",
        "url": "https://lassennews.com/plumas-countys-keddie-murders-revisited-part-iii",
        "publisher": "Lassen News",
        "tier": "secondary"
      }
    ],
    "reviewer": {
      "completeness": 95,
      "narrative_quality": 90,
      "readability": 95,
      "direct_answer_standalone": true,
      "perspective_counterpoints": true,
      "honesty_framing": true,
      "verdict": "pass",
      "reasons": "The article is well-researched, balanced, and adheres to all editorial and safety guidelines provided."
    }
  },
  "entities": [
    {
      "name": "Sue Sharp",
      "type": "Person",
      "sameAs": "",
      "description": "Victim killed at Cabin 28 during the 1981 Keddie homicide."
    },
    {
      "name": "John Sharp",
      "type": "Person",
      "sameAs": "",
      "description": "Victim killed at Cabin 28 during the 1981 Keddie homicide."
    },
    {
      "name": "Dana Wingate",
      "type": "Person",
      "sameAs": "",
      "description": "Victim killed at Cabin 28 during the 1981 Keddie homicide."
    },
    {
      "name": "Tina Sharp",
      "type": "Person",
      "sameAs": "",
      "description": "Missing after the 1981 killings; skeletal remains were discovered near Camp Eighteen in 1984."
    },
    {
      "name": "Martin Smartt",
      "type": "Person",
      "sameAs": "",
      "description": "Primary suspect associated with a letter later viewed as potentially incriminating."
    },
    {
      "name": "John “Bo” Boubede",
      "type": "Person",
      "sameAs": "",
      "description": "Primary suspect identified in later accounts of the Keddie murders."
    },
    {
      "name": "Plumas County Sheriff’s Office",
      "type": "Organization",
      "sameAs": "",
      "description": "Law enforcement agency associated with the investigation and later renewed investigative interest."
    },
    {
      "name": "Keddie",
      "type": "Place",
      "sameAs": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keddie,_California",
      "description": "California community where Cabin 28 and the Keddie Resort were located."
    },
    {
      "name": "Camp Eighteen",
      "type": "Place",
      "sameAs": "",
      "description": "Area near which Tina Sharp’s skeletal remains were discovered in 1984."
    }
  ],
  "place": {
    "name": "Cabin 28, Keddie Resort",
    "address": "Keddie, Plumas County, California, USA",
    "sameAs": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keddie,_California"
  },
  "temporal_coverage": {
    "start": "",
    "end": ""
  },
  "claims": [
    {
      "claim_text": "A letter from Martin Smartt to his estranged wife contained a statement that appeared to be a confession.",
      "category": "evidence",
      "agreement_status": "single_source",
      "confidence": 0.9,
      "is_quotable": true,
      "quote_text": "I've paid a price for your love, and now that I've bought it with four lives you tell me we're through. Great!",
      "quote_attribution": "Martin Smartt"
    },
    {
      "claim_text": "DNA evidence recovered from a piece of tape at the scene matched a known living suspect in 2018.",
      "category": "evidence",
      "agreement_status": "single_source",
      "confidence": 0.9,
      "is_quotable": false,
      "quote_text": "",
      "quote_attribution": ""
    },
    {
      "claim_text": "Martin Smartt and John Boubede were considered prime suspects in the murders.",
      "category": "person",
      "agreement_status": "agreed",
      "confidence": 0.9,
      "is_quotable": false,
      "quote_text": "",
      "quote_attribution": ""
    },
    {
      "claim_text": "A quadruple homicide occurred in Cabin 28 of the Keddie Resort on the night of April 11-12, 1981.",
      "category": "timeline",
      "agreement_status": "agreed",
      "confidence": 1,
      "is_quotable": false,
      "quote_text": "",
      "quote_attribution": ""
    },
    {
      "claim_text": "Tina Sharp's skeletal remains were discovered near Camp Eighteen in 1984.",
      "category": "evidence",
      "agreement_status": "agreed",
      "confidence": 1,
      "is_quotable": false,
      "quote_text": "",
      "quote_attribution": ""
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keddie_murders",
      "title": "Keddie murders - Wikipedia",
      "publisher": "Wikipedia",
      "tier": "secondary",
      "type": "wiki"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://kolotv.com/content/news/The-Keddie-Murders-Potential-evidence-continues-to-surface-382174881.html",
      "title": "The Keddie Murders: Potential evidence continues to surface",
      "publisher": "KOLO TV",
      "tier": "secondary",
      "type": "news_article"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://citytowner.com/keddie-ca-cabin-murders",
      "title": "The Chilling Unsolved Keddie Cabin Quadruple Homicide in Keddie California - City Towner",
      "publisher": "City Towner",
      "tier": "tertiary",
      "type": "other"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://lassennews.com/plumas-countys-keddie-murders-revisited-part-iii",
      "title": "Plumas County’s Keddie murders revisited — Part III - Lassen News",
      "publisher": "Lassen News",
      "tier": "secondary",
      "type": "news_article"
    }
  ]
}