Clipping from Reno Gazette-Journal, April 13, 2016.DMAC. Her fate remained unknown until her skeletal remains turned up in the woods three years later, as recounted Monday night in an episode of PEOPLEs new true-crime series on Investigation Discovery, People Magazine Investigates. [25], Rumors regarding the crimes being ritualistic or motivated by drug trafficking were dismissed by Plumas County Sheriff Doug Thomas, who stated in the week following the murders that no drug paraphernalia or illegal drugs were found in the home. In 2013, the Plumas County Sheriff, Greg Hagwood, hired Mike Gamberg as a Special Investigator. Beyond the living room was the kitchen and two bedrooms. However, many of the residents left, and the town fell into disrepair when the railroad terminal was closed. Interesting history topics are just a click away. covered it up, is the way it sounds. He alleges that Bo and Martin fit into a larger drug-smuggling scheme that involved the federal government. (Metcalf: 2018). What else do you want? At the centre of its hub was Keddie Resort, a collection of 33 rustic cabins which could be rented out long term for around $170 per month. In press releases accompanying the sketches, the suspects were described as being in their late 20s to early 30s; one stood between 5feet 11inches (1.80m) to 6feet 2inches (1.88m) tall with dark-blonde hair, and the other between 5feet 6inches (1.68m) and 5feet 10inches (1.78m) with black, greased hair. There were some bloodstains on her bedding, which suggested that she might have been kidnapped from her bed after the murders. One theory is that they really wanted people to notice them. The prevalence of blood suggested to investigators that the victims had been moved and rearranged from the positions in which they were murdered. Gary Mollath, who owned one of the failed resorts, turned his cabins into long-term rental units for low-income families. ("dmac" to his enemies.) Jamie witnessed the carnage, the aftermath of murder. In 2016, a man sweeping around with a metal detector found a hammer in a dried-up pond near Keddies entrance. Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. It is unclear when this happened or who did it. [24], The house in which the murders occurred was demolished in 2004. 35 Years Later, New Clues May Solve Keddie Murder Mystery. The Sharp family had just moved in to cabin 28 the year before. Sheilas sister, 12-year-old Tina Sharp, was nowhere to be found. [24] Shortly after announcing the discovery, the Butte County Sheriff's Office received an anonymous call that identified the remains as belonging to Tina, but the call was not documented in the case. Justin also claimed that Tina came out shortly after, and one of the men abducted her out the back door. Inside The Unsolved Shooting Of Brooklyn's Hip-Hop King. [24] Plumas County Sheriff Sylvester Thomas, who presided over the case, later stated that Martin had provided "endless clues" in the case that seemed to "throw the suspicion away from him. Sheilas 12-year-old sister Tina was missing, while her two younger brothers, Rick and Greg, and their friend Justin were left unharmed during the violent ordeal. The only thing authorities found that may reveal the identity of the killer, or killers, was DNA collected from a piece of medical tape used to bind the victims. Working together the result was both fascinating and spooky. Justin reported then that John and Dana entered the home and argued with the men which resulted in a violent fight. Stranger still, in an adjoining bedroom the two youngest Sharp boys, Rickey and Greg, as well as their friend and neighbor, 12-year-old Justin Smartt were found unharmed. It read: Ive paid the price of your love & now that Ive bought it with four peoples lives, you tell me we are through. One of the men was holding a small knife and a hammer. As far as the person who gave John and Dana a ride home, Gamberg indicates that he identified a woman and has interviewed her. In 1981, Glenda "Sue" Sharp was a single mother who had moved her family of six to Cabin 28 of the Keddie Resort in Keddie, California, part of Plumas County. Keddie is a tiny settlement in Plumas County on the outskirts of Quincy, California. But, some investigators believe that Marilyn was somehow complicit in the murders. [24], According to a 2016 article published by The Sacramento Bee, Martin had left Keddie and driven to Reno, Nevada, shortly after the murders; from there, he sent a letter to Marilyn ruminating on personal struggles in their marriage, which he concluded with: "I've paid the price of your love & now I've bought it with four people's lives. But Sheila credits the memory of her mothers compassion as a guide she has tried to follow. The Mystery Behind The Keddie Cabin Murders Explained. This murder is shrouded in mystery, leaving behind a messy and compelling trail of clues. The sheriff at the time of the murders, Doug Thomas, and his deputy. She was naked from the waist down, but there was no sign of sexual assault. Soon, PCSO squads would be on hand. Everyone loves a good mystery.But what about those good unsolved mysteries that don't have that satisfying ending like Scooby-Doo pulling off the mask of the culprit and are just downright spooky? Historic Memories reports Keddie was once a bustling town with a busy railroad terminal. This was a couple years ago. Unfortunately, many hours passed since her disappearance, and the chance of anyone finding her nearby was slim. Please note that there is a lot of misinformation published online about the Keddie murders. On the other hand, his reason for killing Tina was that she had seen everything. The statement from Martys letter, What else do you want?, sounds like Marty is asking,In addition to what you already asked for, what more do you want me to do? "I've paid the price of your love & now I've bought it with four people's lives," ABC10 reports the letter said. When Martin discovered this, he enlisted Bo, his friend, and known mob enforcer who had lived with the Smartts a mere 10 days before the Keddie murders, to take Sue out of the picture. As a result, he couldnt allow her to live. Last post Re: Keddie RR murder by Copybot.2 Fri Apr 08, 2022 9:18 pm; 1990 - 1999. She mentioned, however, that she doesnt talk to her brothers about it because she wants to protect them. What the 14-year-old girl discovered inside the modest four-room cabin instantly became one of the most macabre scenes in modern American crime history and has come to be known as the gruesome Keddie murders. Where is the Body of the Legendary King Gorm of Denmark. However, investigators didnt address these statements, and the police did not arrest or interview Marty again. The Keddie victims were bound with tape and electrical cords. The former Sharp home was condemned and demolished in 2004. [6][16] Initial reports stated that the three young boys had slept through the incident, though this was later contradicted. A mom, son, and son's best friend were found murdered. Local authorities confirmed she was not known to law enforcement and did not have a criminal record. As reported by ABC10, John Boubede died in 1988, and Martin Smartt died in 2006. It would take the police hours to realize that a fourth victim, Tina, was missing. Later that year, a knife was recovered in a trashcan outside the Keddie General Store; authorities also believed this item to be linked to the crimes. [24] John Boubede, who allegedly had ties to organized crime in Chicago,[29] died there in 1988. 5 Things to Know about the Keddie Cabin Murders and the Hunt for the Killers, 'People Magazine Investigates' : Inside Decades-Old Disappearances of 5 People Along the Snake River. Neighbors said that for the most part, she kept to herself but the family was integrating well. However, Historic Mysteries reports he was never arrested or charged in the murders. Since then, no arrests have been made, and the names have never been released to the public. Of the suspects who are still alive, Gamberg said: They better batten down the hatches because were coming. Corona, Marcella. Her brother, who would help her and the children start a new life, lived in Quincy, California, about 150 miles north of Sacramento. [8], On April 11, 1981, around 11:30 am, Sue, Sheila, and Greg drove from the residence of their friends, the Meeks family, to pick up Rick, who was attending baseball tryouts at Gansner Field in Quincy. "Keddie murders", Wikipedia "The Martin Smartt 'love letters'", kmik, The Great Zodiac Killer Hoax of 1986 . Keddie murders revisited part 1: New evidence discovered links living suspect to grisly scene - Plumas News The Sharp family's home shortly after the infamous murders took place in 1981. The State Tries to Seal the Deal in Murdaugh Trial Closing Arguments by Surviving the Survivor. As reported by The Mystique, Justin began having vivid dreams in the days after the murders. To read the full article about the Keddie Cabin Murders please log in or join Stangeoutdoors by clicking here: The shocking unsolved Keddie Cabin murders Exclusive Members Only Area $15.99 One time Exclusive content for Members On the morning of April 12, 1981, Sheila Sharp returned to her home at Cabin 28 in the Keddie Resorts in California from the next-door neighbors house. While he was supposedly collecting cans, a human skull and mandible turned up. [6] The house was much larger than the trailer, and had become available when Plumas County's then-sheriff, Sylvester Douglas Thomas, moved out. This would account for Marilyn leaving her husband the day of the murder discovery. Marilyn later said in a 2008 documentary that she believed Marty was the perpetrator and that he had even confessed in writing to her. It was later confirmed that Martin was close with this Sheriff. Keddie28 reports she was attending business classes at the Feather River Community College, where she was purportedly a "good student" who worked hard to maintain high grades. Great! [16] The remains were confirmed by a forensic pathologist to be those of Tina in June 1984. It would also explain why the Smartt boy and the other Sharp boys in the adjoining room were spared. However, an anonymous call to the Sheriffs office reported the remains as belonging to Tina Sharp. Boubede told authorities he was a former Chicago police officer and that Marilyn was his niece, which were both later revealed to be untrue. It's debated whether it was the murders themselves that led to less interest in renting in the once-busy area, or if it was the allegedly poor management of the cabins themselves that led to fewer people being willing to live there. In his dream, he had tried to stop the bleeding in Sues chest with towels, and he covered her with a blanket. [24], Martin Smartt, a neighbor and main suspect, claimed that a claw hammer had inexplicably gone missing from his home. The next morning at around 7 am, Sheila returned home from her sleepover next door. 5 Things to Know about the Keddie Cabin Murders and the New Hunt for the Killers. Three years after the slayings occurred, part of a skull was found 29 miles away near Camp Eighteen in neighboring Butte County. On April 11, 1981, Sue and the kids were in and out of Cabin 28 throughout the day. About the Cabin 28 Keddie Murders Case: The morning of April 12, 1981, Glenna Sue Sharp and her kids, Tina and John, and John's friend, Dana Wingate, were brutally murdered inside house #28 in Keddie, California. It would have been intentionally put there. In 2016, Gamberg met with a counselor at the Reno Veterans Administration. Nevertheless, authorities were determined to follow any possible leads. Plumas County Sheriffs OfficeProbable murder weapons for the Keddie slaying discovered and submitted as evidence in 2016. Their throats were slashed, and they both had multiple stabbings and blunt force trauma to the head. Dmac does not agree on this point. Unsolved murders have a way of weighing on a community, the place forever haunted and the neighbors always left wondering. His handling of the case in retrospect would be considered disastrous at best and corrupt at worst. They also all sustained multiple stab wounds. "[27] A grid pattern search of the area covering a 5-mile (8.0km) radius around the house was conducted with police canines, but the efforts were fruitless. He also exaggerated about how long he had lived in Keddie. Four people were killed in a small California resort town, including Sue Sharp, her son John, daughter Tina, and John's friend Dana. Strangled. I killed the woman and her daughter, but I didnt have anything to do with the [boys], he purportedly told the counselor. Although both Martin Smartt and Bo Boudebe are now deceased, new DNA evidence has pointed investigators to other suspects who may have had a hand in these murders, and who are still alive. Given the extent of the brutality of the Keddie cabin murders, there was plenty of evidence left behind. . The back door left ajar. It also provides an explanation as to why the two lead suspects were seemingly given a free pass and told to leave town by Sheriff Thomas. Whoever attacked them bound them with medical tape. With new significant evidence emerging thanks to the meticulous work of the local authorities, the mystery of Cabin 28 could soon be solved. Unfortunately, they couldnt determine where the sounds came from and went back to sleep. 7. . However, though the three boys initially claimed to have slept through the massacre, Rickey and Gregs friend Justin Smartt did later say that he saw Sue with two men in the house that night. John Boubede left Keddie after the murders and returned to Chicago, where he died in 1988. Her friends dad retrieved the three unharmed boys through their bedroom window so they would not have to see the scene. Published October 18, 2021 Updated November 1, 2021 Between April 11 and April 12, 1981, Glenna "Sue" Sharp and three others were brutally killed in the resort town of Keddie, California. However, the perpetrators did not leave behind any of their own blood. Later, investigators learned that Boubede had a criminal record and was working as an enforcer with the mafia in Chicago. The discussion suddenly erupted into a violent attack. As she opened the door, she discovered three bodies on the living room floor of the infamous Cabin 28. While under hypnosis, he described the killers as a tall man with blond hair and a mustache and a short man, who was clean-shaven with dark hair. It matched the description of the one Marty gave in his interrogation. 27 min listen. In a letter, Marty purportedly said: Ive paid the price of your love and now that Ive bought it with four peoples lives, you tell me we are through. Investigators Allude to a Break in the Keddie Cabin Murders The 1981 murder of Sue, Johnny, Tina Sharp and Dana Wingate remains a mystery, but we may be seeing an arrest soon. Martin Smartt later told the police that he had a hammer that matched the one discovered and also that his hammer and gone missing shortly before the murders. Did Genene Jones Kill As Many As 60 Children As A Pediatric Nurse? The murders took place in house No. . New Evidence Revives Plumas County Quadruple Murder Case. The Sacramento Bee, May 7, 2016.Metcalf, Victoria. They had died . He is foul-mouthed, disrespectful, and abusive, even when speaking of the victims and immediate surviving family. All rights reserved. It was true that investigators failed to log numerous pieces of evidence and overlooked leads. Keddie Murders Revisited Following the Clues, May 3, 2018.Metcalf, Victoria. She also worked a part-time job at the Quincy Elks Lodge, and with the little money she brought in, Sue rented Keddie Cabin 28 in the fall of 1981. In 2016, a hammer, which could have been the one Smartt reportedly said he lost, was found in a pond near where the Keddie cabin once stood. As reported by Timber Creek Talon, Marty also purportedly confessed to the murders during a therapy session. Because she was a minor, the initial search for her involved the FBI, but, for some unknown reason, they quit investigating after about a month. Sheila would spend the night at the Seabolts. 5 People Vanished Along the Snake River Beginning in 1979: Will Police Finally Catch a Serial Killer? Watch the People Magazine Investigates After Show, available now on the new People/Entertainment Weekly Network (PEN). The Varangians: Viking Conquerors turned Byzantium Honor Guard, The Secret Necropolis of Ancient Varna and the First Goldsmiths. Two months later, a forensic analysis of the teeth confirmed that they were indeed Tinas remains. Although Justin's dreams, and the details he provided during hypnosis, were chilling, it is unclear whether he actually witnessed the murders or the dreams simply echoed details reported by the media. Sue packed her children up and moved across the country from North Carolina to the Golden State. However, none of the evidence helped the investigators find the killers or determine how she died. Upon entering the restaurant with several guns, including a 9mm automatic pistol and a semiautomatic rifle, Huberty demanded everyone It was evident that Sue had put up a fight during the attack, as she had defensive wounds on her arms. A domestic violence survivor herself, Sue reportedly advised Marilyn to leave her husband. The oldest boy, John, got the ground-floor basement all to himself. [29], In a 2008 documentary on the murders, Marilyn Smartt claimed that she suspected her husband Martin and his friend John "Bo" Boubede (erroneously reported as "John Boudee" by author Robert Scott)[a] were responsible for the murders. A back view of cabin 28 where the family had lived for a year. He lives in the West Midlands, UK with his wife and son. Investigators claim that she was having her own affair at the time. Since his recruitment in 2013, he has made several new discoveries. Around a month after the Keddie murders took place, the neighborhood friend, Justin, who was one of the survivors, told his therapist that he was having dreams about the murder. The results of the analyses and tests are unknown. After looking around and searching for survivors, he rejoined the others outside. Note the sign on the front tree proclaims this was a home where a mom and her five children lived. Blood was everywhere. Tape secured the gag in place. Police were called to the scene at around 8:05 that morning, having been alerted by the Seabolt family . The murders took place in house No. However, they onlywent on a few dates, and the last time they saw each other was two days before she was killed. Claw hammered. Although we have attempted to sort through it with due diligence, even the most credible sources do not agree on all the details. Composite sketch of the Keddie murder suspects. Although Marilyn gave it to authorities, Historic Mysteries reports there is no record that the jacket was entered into evidence. [10] Tina, who had been watching television at the Seabolt residence, was told by Sheila that Sue wanted Tina home by 10 PM, so Tina returned to #28 around 9:55 pm. . Everyone called her Sue. There, she resided with her 15-year-old son, John (born November 16, 1965);[3] 14-year-old daughter Sheila; 12-year-old daughter Tina (born July 22, 1968);[7] and two younger sons, Rick (age 10) and Greg (age 5). 12-year-old Tina Sharp is missing. But the memory of those murders has also stayed with the community and especially with the investigators who have re-opened the case of the 1981 attacks on Sue Sharp, her son Johnny, her daughter Tina, and family friend Dana Wingate. The trio had been stabbed, bludgeoned, and strangled to death. Its my belief that there were more than two people who were involved in the totality of the crimethe disposal of the evidence and the abduction of the little girl, Hagwood said. Im not as I guess Im more cautious of my surroundings., That night Sheila, now 50, a married mother of three and grandmother of two, lost her mom Sue, 36; brother Johnny, 15; and sister Tina, 12, along with Johnnys friend Dana Wingate, 17. The case involves the murders of members of the Sharp family while they were vacationing at Keddie Resort in 1981. Copyright 2016-2022 True Crime Magazine, A Look Inside Ted Bundys Isolation Cell at Dade County Jail, Meet the 13-Year-Old Boy Who Caught Richard Ramirez, A GRAPHIC Look Back At the Hillside Strangler Murders, Revisiting Ted Bundys Issaquah Dump Site, A GRAPHIC Look Back at Zodiac Killers Reign of Terror, A GRAPHIC Look Back At Richard Chases Reign of Terror, A GRAPHIC Look Back At Ted Bundys Execution, NSFW: The Blood-Soaked Trail of the Times Square Killer. August 30 1984 Paradise Rapist. Some have speculated that Martin may have killed Sue for revenge, in the mistaken belief that she was responsible for breaking up his marriage. As reported by Historic Mysteries, Justin was placed under hypnosis and questioned about the content of his dreams. Justin recalled that both men wore glasses and that the two older boys, John and Dana, came home while Sue was talking to the men. When the DOJ was alerted to this confession in 1981, they dismissed it as hearsay.. KEDDIE (CBS13) Investigators believe they may have found one of the weapons used in a 35-year-old murder mystery. Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. Then at 3:30 pm, the two teenagers headed out again. Smartt moved to Reno, Nevada, shortly after the conclusion of his police interview and was also never arrested or charged in the Keddie cabin murders. Two suspects, Marty and Bo, died. On her side, the mother of five was naked from the waist down, tightly gagged with a bandana and her own underwear secured with medical tape. Keddie, CA - Unsolved Quadruple Homicide - Keddie Cabin Murders by Every Town. Also note how close the cabin is to its neighbor. The crime scene of the quadruple murder. The fragments were eventually determined to belong to the missing girl Tina. Blood was all over the victims, the floors, walls, ceiling, both bedroom doors, and on the railing of the outside stairs. The East Area Rapist used electrical cords to bind victims. Gamberg also discovered a hunting knife in Keddie under some junk and sent that in for further analysis. Considering the level of violence that took place, this seems impossible. Sue had just divorced her husband and brought her children from Connecticut to Keddie in Northern California. Detectives also discovered that the telephone had been left off the hook, and the lights had been shut off with all the drapes fully closed. Justin said he saw one of the men stab Sue Sharp. Tina was missing from the scene. This might explain why the Sacramento DOJ sent two allegedly corrupt organized crime special agents instead of agents from the homicide department. Despite a thorough investigation and numerous suspects, the case remains unsolved to this day, leaving many questions . Although the counselor initially reported Martys statements to the police not long after the killings, the police did not log the information as evidence or follow up with this information. KEDDIE, Calif. It has been 40 years since what is known as the Keddie Murders took place in rural Plumas County. Tina, on the other hand, went home around 9:30 and planned to sleep in her own bed. The artist won the Doug Moran in 2011 for his portrait of Baz Luhrmann, and he has won the Archibald people's choice four times - once, in 2013, for another portrait of Keddie. Thats the way my mom raised us, she says. Tina is believed to have been present at the crime scene of the Keddie cabin murders. The three had been bound by medical and electrical tape and had either been viciously stabbed, strangled, or bludgeoned. Marty had a friend, John Boubede, who had been living at Martys house. The Keddie Murders, October 27, 2019. Many people believe that the police were either incompetent or corrupt and covered up the crime for some reason. Tina remained a missing person until April 1984, when her skull and several other bones were recovered at Camp Eighteen, California, near Feather Falls in Butte County. The three boys in the house, Rick, Greg, and their friend, Justin, were all safe in the bedroom. The Keddie Murders: A cold case suddenly getting warm. Marilyn moved out of Cabin 26 the day after the murders. However, he did not have any involvement in the case at the time. Probable murder weapons for the Keddie slaying discovered and submitted as evidence in 2016. Until 3 years to the day after the horrific murders a man collecting cans stumbled upon a human skull in Butte County CA. with a handwritten letter sent to her and signed by her estranged husband. Somehow, this erupted into a bout of violence between them, which resulted in the murders. Despite his lies and inconsistencies in his stories, police cleared him as a suspect. Their throats were slashed, and they both had multiple stabbings and blunt force trauma to the head. Plumas County Sheriffs OfficeComposite sketch of the Keddie murder suspects. [13][14] All three had been bound with medical tape and electrical cords. After she saw the gruesome scene, Sheila ran back to the next-door cabin to get help. Despite the multitude of evidence and a few suspects, no arrests took place. Sue urged them not to hitchhike, but passersby spotted John and Dana on a street corner trying to flag a ride home around 9:30-10:00 that evening. The Keddie murders are an unsolved quadruple homicide which took place over the night of April 1112, 1981, in Keddie, California, United States. Stabbed. Although the story is intriguing, Justin may have gotten information about the case from the media during the four weeks since the murders. In one of the bedrooms, authorities found Rick, Greg, and their friend Justin Eason Smartt, unharmed. The former Sharp home was condemned and demolished in 2004. Why were the remains of Tina found so far away from Cabin 28? Along with the three murders, the younger Sharp daughter, Tina (12) was . Even though Marilyn admitted in a 2008 documentary that she thought her husband his friend Bo was responsible, Sheriff Doug Thomas contradicted this and stated that Martin had successfully passed a polygraph test. They lived in a trailer park for a short time, but then Sue decided to move just five miles from Quincy into the mountains to a place known as the Keddie Resort. He weaves magnificent soap-opera stories from threads of shredded documents and deems these stories the truth. The survivor was noticed cowering in the back of an SUV parked in EQ (East Quincy) outside the apartment where the killers were staying. A renewed investigation has caused the cold case to heat up, according to the People Magazine Investigates episode entitled Cabin 28: Horror in the Woods.. Keddie28 reported Sharp immediately fled the cabin and ran to the neighbors for help. Determined to find more survivors, Jamie crept up the back stairs. Were continuing with the investigation, and were doing interviews, and we have several persons of interest. Gamberg sent the tape to other law enforcement agencies for analysis and possible leads. To put it bluntly, dmac is a fabulist. It is true that longtime cold cases can find warmth even after several decades. Keddie Resort Murder. It was believed that Martin and Sue were having an affair and that Sue was supposedly counseling Marilyn to leave her husband, who she had said was abusive to her. After learning about the Keddie cabin murders, read about another unsolved murder, the Lake Bodom homicides that continue to confound authorities. The date was April 11, 1981, when Cabin 28 saw the horrors that crowd it and to this day, the case remains cold. It is unclear what evidence links Boubede to the mafia. Keddie, a once-favored railroad stop for recreational tourists traveling from the San Francisco Bay area . As reported by Keddie28, she returned to her family's cabin, which was only 15 feet away, at approximately 7:45 Sunday morning to get her outfit. His ankles were tied with electrical wire which was wound also around Johns ankles so that the two were connected. Blog. ABC10's Madison Wade spoke with. Young John was closest to the front door, face-up, his hands blood-covered and bound with medical tape. Unfortunately, they later went into foster care as their aunt already had several children and couldnt handle more. When they returned to the bar much later, they were wearing suits, as if they had spent the evening at a business meeting. Circleville, Ohio - The Unsolved Mystery of the Circleville Letters by Every . Some sources claim that Boubede had a crush on Sue, who supposedly rejected him twice. He is the author of a series of published mystery novels and holds a degree in criminal psychology. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Plumas County Sheriffs DepartmentA back view of cabin 28 where the family had lived for a year. The Butte County Sheriffs Department soon received an anonymous call asking, I was wondering if they thought of the murder up in Keddie up in Plumas County a couple years ago where a 12-year-old girl was never found?. Marilyn also provided a letter she received from Marty, in which she said he confessed to the Keddie cabin murders. Remarkably, the tape of the anonymous tip regarding Tina was found sealed in case files, untouched by Plumas County Sheriffs Dept. Was it possible that he either witnessed the murders or awoke at some point during the night but had blocked it out? The gruesome murder of a mother and three children 40 years ago continues to haunt investigators, who believe someone knows what happened, KXTV reports. Justin said both men were wearing glasses. "[17], Martin Smartt died of cancer in Portland, Oregon, in June 2000.