Post by Hope on Jan 1, 2022 7:25:11 GMT
CASE SYNOPSIS
Summary of Case
Some time between 10:00 p.m. on 4/11/81 and 8:00 a.m. on 4/12/81, three individuals,
Glenna Susan Sharp (age 36), John Steven Sharp (age 15), son of Glenna Sharp, and Dana Paul
Wingate (age 17) were brutally murdered in the Sharp’s residence located in a small railroad
community known as Keddie, California. A fourth victim, originally presumed kidnapped from the
residence at the time of the murders, was Tina Sharp (age 12) daughter of Glenna Sharp. Tina ’s
remains were discovered three years later approximately 80 miles from Keddie in a remote area
known as Feather Falls. To date, there has been no motive established for the murders, and this
case remains unsolved.
Demographics
Keddie, California is small railroad community located in remote mountainous terrain within
the Feather River Canyon, approximately 130 miles north east of Sacramento, and 7 miles west of
Quincy. The community was made up primarily of low income housing, and had a resort and bar
that was frequented by the railroad workers and families. The Sharp residence was a run down, 8
room, single story structure. It had two bedrooms and one bathroom. Glenna and Tina slept in one
of the bedrooms and the remaining Sharp children slept in the other bedroom. The house was
minimally furnished, and what furniture they had was of little or no value. The closest neighbors
were located only several yards away. There are also several other residences located within the
same general area, but not as close. One neighbor reported hearing what they thought was a
"muffled scream' sometime around 3.·00 a.m. on 4/12/81, but did not get up to see what it was.
Victimology
Glenna was in the process of getting a divorce from her husband, who was in the U.S. Navy
stationed at Groton, Connecticut at the time of the murders. She lived with her husband for several
years as a military wife. She is described as being a white adult, 5’2" tall, and weighing 100
pounds. Her husband was also of a small stature. She was an average looking woman who wore
glasses and had short hair. She was not a fancy dresser and was best described by casual
associates and neighbors as a loner. Her only source of income was as a CETA workers, wherein
she was paid to attend college, and learn a business trade. She was described as being a good
student who studied hard and obtained good grades. She received $250.00 a month through the
U.S. Navy from her husband. She had no local criminal record or was known to use drugs or
alcohol. No drugs or alcohol were found in the house at the time of the murders. She was
described as being a poor mother who lacked the ability to supervise her children.
John Sharp was described as a white juvenile, 5’ 5 1/2" tall, weighing 105 pounds. He was
a student at Quincy High School with no prior arrest record in Plumas County. He was described
as having few close friends, with Dana Wingate, the third victim at the residence, as his closest
friend. He also associated with the neighbor family (Meeks). His primary associate was with
Richard Meeks (age 15), who was the father of a child with John’s sister Sheila. John was known
to use and possibly sell marijuana, but the frequency is unclear. He is also known to drink beer.
He did not have a job or have any source of income. His primary source of transportation was
hitchhiking around the Quincy and Keddie area. He had no known enemies at the time he was
murdered. Associates described John as an aggressive individual who was prone to fighting. Due
to the lack of supervision, he was known to spend weekends away from his residence, supposedly
staying at the homes of friends in the Quincy area.
Dana Wingate was described as being white, 5’10", weighing 140 pounds. He lived in a
foster home in Quincy, having been placed there by the Plumas County Probation Department in
1979. Prior to that he lived with his father who also lived in Quincy. His mother was convicted of
drug use in the South Lake Tahoe area, approximately 110 miles from Quincy. His father was
known as the "town drunk", who supported himself doing odd jobs around the area. Dana was
suspected of using marijuana. He was also a known diabetic who required regular insulin shots.
For this reason it is suspected that he was not a heavy user of drugs or alcohol because of his
reliance on insulin and the reported adverse reactions they have when mixed. Dana attended
Quincy High School. He was placed on probation after being charged with torturing a cat in the
Quincy area. He and another friend injected the cat with a quantity of insulin and the friend then
burned the cat alive
and the friend then
burned the cat alive. He was described as an individual who was afraid to accept responsibility for
himself and probably would not defend himself if provoked. He was known to have a more adult
sense of humor, and was suspected to be having sexual intercourse with a 27 year old unmarried
woman in Quincy. He had no known enemies at the time of his murder.
Tina Sharp was described as being a white juvenile, 4’10", weighing approximately 90
pounds. She looked physically younger than her actual age. She was described as being sweet and
innocent, although she was known to be jealous of her older sister Sheila’s physical appearance.
Tina had been listed as a possible victim of sexual abuse involving another I2 year old girl and a 50
year old man from another area in California. The man was arrested and charged, but the charges
were later dropped for lack of a creditable witness. Subsequent investigation determined that Tina
and the other 12 year old girl may have had previous sexual contact with this individual, possibly on
a voluntary basis. Tina was known to have 'forts' and hide outs in the hills near her home where
she often went to play alone, sometimes taking friends with her. Nothing unusual was found at these
forts or hide outs.
Details of Case
The three victims found at the residence were discovered at 8:00 am. on 4/12/81 by
Glenna 's 14 year old daughter, Sheila Sharp. Sheila had left her residence the night before at
approximately 10:00 pm. to spend the night at the neighbors house. Glenna had a total of 5
children, John, Sheila, Tina, and two other younger children (not identified in the documentation
received from the Sheriff’s Department or the VICAP summaries). At the time Sheila left her
Justin Smart, age 7), had just finished watching television and were getting ready for bed. Her
brother John, and best friend Dana, were last reported seen hitchhiking from Quincy toward Keddie
at approximately 10:00 pm on 4/11/81. This is the last time they were reported being seen alive.
It is unknown what time they arrived back at the Sharp residence or how they got there.
All three victims were found in the living room, bound hand and foot. Dana was bound at
the ankles by electrical cord, which was also attached to John’s ankles. John’s hands were bound
with adhesive tape. Glenna had electrical wire wrapped around her ankles and pulled up and
wrapped around her wrists. The electrical cord used was obtained from appliances in the Sharp’s
residence. It should also be noted that Dana’s ankles were loosely bound compared to Glenna and
John’s. Glenna and John had been stabbed and beaten to death. Dana was not stabbed, but
sustained severe head trauma from being bludgeoned and strangled. Glenna’s panties and adhesive
tape were stuffed in her mouth and secured by a bandanna and hat band that were tied around her
mouth. The other three juveniles sleeping in an adjacent room in the house at the time of the
murders were unharmed. There was no evidence of sexual assault on any of the victims, or any
items of value missing from the residence.
Glenna was found laying on the floor next to the couch wearing only a housecoat, and her
body had been covered with a blanket and sheet after she was killed. The sheet and blanket had
come from Tina’s bed. John and Dana were found fully clothed laying next to each other on the
floor. One of the cushions from the couch had been placed under Dana’s head, which appeared to
have been placed there prior to his being beaten. Sheila Sharp told investigators that a pair of
Tina’s brown lace up shoes and red coat were missing. The murder weapons were a claw hammer,
a steak knife, a butcher knife, and possibly a pellet rifle. The hammer was obtained from a tool box
on the back porch of the residence, and the knives were obtained from a drawer in the kitchen. The
hammer and knives were left at the scene near the bodies. The rifle was not located, however, the
front ramp sight of the rifle was found on the floor next to one of the victims, indicating it may have
been used to beat the victims in addition to the hammer.
Blood was spattered throughout the living room and was also found in Glenna and Tina's
room. Numerous small knife marks were found in the living room walls, which Sheila stated were
not there prior to the murders. Specific information related to the recovery of Tina’s remains are
unknown, except that only her skull and some bones were found approximately 3 years after the
murders and were used for identification purposes. The cause of Tina’s death was not determined.
Justin Smart, one of the three children who were in the house but left unharmed, told
investigators that they had watched the television show "Love Boat" prior to going to bed.
Sometime during the night he heard a "thumping" sound. He then talked about a dream he’d had
about being on the Love Boat with Glenna, wherein he described two men attack and stab her, then
jumped off the boat. Justin said he then lifted Glenna’s blouse and saw blood coming from her left
breast area. He put a rag on it to try and stop the bleeding. Justin was subsequently placed under
hypnosis two separate times to obtain a more detailed description of the two men he saw in his
dream. It was speculated by a child psychologist, that perhaps Justin in fact witnessed the murders,
but it was too traumatic for him to relate to in reality, therefore it was a dream. Composite
drawings of the two men Justin described were put in the local papers, but resulted with no
substantial leads
front ramp sight of the rifle was found on the floor next to one of the victims, indicating it may have
been used to beat the victims in addition to the hammer.
Blood was spattered throughout the living room and was also found in Glenna and Tina's
room. Numerous small knife marks were found in the living room walls, which Sheila stated were
not there prior to the murders. Specific information related to the recovery of Tina’s remains are
unknown, except that only her skull and some bones were found approximately 3 years after the
murders and were used for identification purposes. The cause of Tina’s death was not determined.
Justin Smart, one of the three children who were in the house but left unharmed, told
investigators that they had watched the television show "Love Boat" prior to going to bed.
Sometime during the night he heard a "thumping" sound. He then talked about a dream he’d had
about being on the Love Boat with Glenna, wherein he described two men attack and stab her, then
jumped off the boat. Justin said he then lifted Glenna’s blouse and saw blood coming from her left
breast area. He put a rag on it to try and stop the bleeding. Justin was subsequently placed under
hypnosis two separate times to obtain a more detailed description of the two men he saw in his
dream. It was speculated by a child psychologist, that perhaps Justin in fact witnessed the murders,
but it was too traumatic for him to relate to in reality, therefore it was a dream. Composite
drawings of the two men Justin described were put in the local papers, but resulted with no
substantial leads.
CASE ANALYSIS
Observations/Perceptions
The offender demonstrated a great deal of control in order to subdue, bind and gag, and
murder three full grown individuals. This indicates that there was either more than one offender, or
one of the victims assisted the offender with binding the other victims. Glenna was dressed in a
night shirt, yet John and Dana were fully clothed. This would indicate that the boys either
interrupted the attack on Glenna, or they may have been picked up hitchhiking by the offender(s)
and entered the residence with them. Glenna was gagged and had been bound much more securely
than the other two victims. She also sustained defense wounds on her arms and hands. She also
had blood on the bottom of her feet indicating she had walked through some blood prior to being
bound. The scene also reflects that the offender(s) did not plan on killing all the victims, or killing
them was an afterthought based on the weapons that were used, which came from inside the
residence.
The offender(s) spent a fair amount of time in the house in order to gain control, bind, and
kill the victims. However, the scene indicates that the offender(s) left immediately after killing the
victims. The three younger children were left unharmed in the next room, either because the
offender(s) did not know they were there (indicating they were in a hurry), or there may have been
some proprietary interest on the part of the offender(s). The offender(s) also used a vehicle, in
order to kidnap Tina, plus the nearest town is at least 7 miles away, and they would have been seen
walking on the highway by someone.
Sex and money was not the motive for the three murders. However, it is unknown if Tina
was sexually assaulted before being killed. The fact that Tina left willingly (i.e., put on her shoes
and a coat), indicates that there may have been a bond between Tina and the offender. Tina’s
subsequent murder was probably a result of the offender's fear that she would go to the police. If
the intent of the offender was to abduct Tina for sexual purposes, he probably killed her shortly after
she was kidnapped, because Plumas County and the area where Tina’s remains were found is very
rural, and the publicity of this case would have resulted in someone identifying her if she was not
hiding out or being held captive.
The covering up of Glenna’s body after she was killed, and the pillow being placed under
Dana’s head demonstrates "undoing " on the part of the offender. This, coupled with the battering
of the victims faces indicates that the offender knew the victims. Tina may have placed the blanket
on her mother, or if Justin did in fact witness the murder of Glenna, he may have covered her body
after the offender(s) left, feeling that she should not be seen partially clothed.
There had been no other similar violent crimes reported prior to, or subsequent the Keddie
murders within a hundred mile radius of the area. No evidence of ritualism or religiosity were
found at the scene. All the victims were at high risk of being involved in a violent crime. The
mother had little or no control of her 5 children. The older three of five children were often gone
overnight, unsupervised, as demonstrated by the 14 year old daughter becoming pregnant by the 15
year old neighbor boy (Richard Meeks). John and Dana’s primary mode of transportation was by
hitchhiking in a remote mountainous area frequented by transients and individuals of low socio-
economic status. Both boys did not have many friends, and were not high achievers in any respect.
The same can be said for Glenna, who was living from hand to mouth on minimal support and
welfare.
The offender responsible for the four murders displayed the following characteristics
with those of a psychopath:
Absence of Guilt: The crime scene reflected a lot of anger and rage on one hand and remorse and
guilt on the other. Since it is unknown whether the offender or Tina or Justin placed the blanket
over Glenna’s body and the pillow under Dana’s head, the remorse may not been that of the
offender. The manner in which the three victims were killed indicates a lack of guilt, as does the
subsequent murder of Tina. The offender most likely rationalized the need to kill the victims,
placing blame on them for being at the wrong place, saying the wrong thing, etc.
Immediate Satisfaction: What ever the motive was for the murders, the offender wanted it right
then. He was not willing to wait for another time wherein he may not have had to kill the victims to
prevent him from getting what he wanted. This was evidenced by the weapons used and the bindings
coming from inside the victim ’s residence.
Extroverted: There was no evidence of forced entry into the residence, another indicator that the
offender knew the victims. In order for the offender to gain access into the residence, gain control
of the victims, and take Tina with him, he must have played against reactions of all the victims,
especially Tina. The offender demonstrated control and confidence, consistent with someone who is
generally outgoing and accepted by others, even looked up to.
Disregard for Community or Group Standards of Behavior: The need to kill all the victims
demonstrates the offenders loyalty only to himself Brutally murdering women and children is the
ultimate disregard for acceptable social standards.
Dependence on Others: The offender demonstrated the need to kidnap Tina, whether it was for sex
or love is unknown. Being able to control and murder four people without being caught would
suggest the offender’s need to build his ego at the expense of his victims. It definitely presents a
challenge to the offender, resulting in stimulation and excitement.
Sexual Experimentation: None of the victims found at the residence displayed any signs of sexual
assault. However, it is unknown if Tina was sexually assaulted prior to being murdered. The fact
that she was only 12 years old would suggest a fixation on young females.
Inability to Form Interpersonal Relationships: Since the crime scene indicates the offender knew the victims, especially John and Glenna, this demonstrates the offenders ability to gain the confidence
and acceptance of others, yet turn around and beat them to death if they feel it necessary.
Fails to Learn by Punishment: The control and confidence demonstrated by the offender indicates
that he is not a juvenile, and has committed other significant crimes before. He most likely has a
criminal history, which demonstrates he does not learn from punishment for past crimes.
The crime scene displayed characteristics of both an organized and disorganized offender.
The reasons for this would be best explained if there was more than one offender. The following
characteristics of the crime scene are consistent with those of an organized offender:
- The kidnapping appeared to have been a planned event.
- The crime scene reflected allot of control, with submissive action on the part of Dana.
- Restraints were used on all the victims.
- There was a great deal of aggressive violent behavior in the course of murdering the victims,
and there was no signs of sexual acts prior to or after death.
The following characteristics of the crime scene are consistent with those of a disorganized
offender:
- The murders of the three victims at the residence appeared to have been an afterthought and
were unplanned.
- The offender was familiar with the Sharp’s residence, and he was known by the victims.
- There was minimal conversation between victims and offender, except that which was
necessary to gain control.
- The crime scene was sloppy, bindings and weapons were obtained from and left at the
residence, and potential witnesses were left unharmed.
- The attack on the victims was sudden and very violent, probably triggered by resistance,
especially by John.
- The bodies of Glenna, John, and Dana were left in view at the death scene.
- No efforts were made to hide the weapons used to kill the victims. Blood was spattered
throughout the crime scene.
Summary:
Based on the demographics of violence profile, an analysis of the crime scene, and
characteristics of anti-social behavior displayed by the offender, it can be concluded that the person
responsible for this triple homicide, kidnapping, and subsequent fourth murder is a psychopathic,
disorganized or perhaps an inexperienced organized offender who is not likely to benefit from any
form of punishment or attempts at rehabilitation
Summary of Case
Some time between 10:00 p.m. on 4/11/81 and 8:00 a.m. on 4/12/81, three individuals,
Glenna Susan Sharp (age 36), John Steven Sharp (age 15), son of Glenna Sharp, and Dana Paul
Wingate (age 17) were brutally murdered in the Sharp’s residence located in a small railroad
community known as Keddie, California. A fourth victim, originally presumed kidnapped from the
residence at the time of the murders, was Tina Sharp (age 12) daughter of Glenna Sharp. Tina ’s
remains were discovered three years later approximately 80 miles from Keddie in a remote area
known as Feather Falls. To date, there has been no motive established for the murders, and this
case remains unsolved.
Demographics
Keddie, California is small railroad community located in remote mountainous terrain within
the Feather River Canyon, approximately 130 miles north east of Sacramento, and 7 miles west of
Quincy. The community was made up primarily of low income housing, and had a resort and bar
that was frequented by the railroad workers and families. The Sharp residence was a run down, 8
room, single story structure. It had two bedrooms and one bathroom. Glenna and Tina slept in one
of the bedrooms and the remaining Sharp children slept in the other bedroom. The house was
minimally furnished, and what furniture they had was of little or no value. The closest neighbors
were located only several yards away. There are also several other residences located within the
same general area, but not as close. One neighbor reported hearing what they thought was a
"muffled scream' sometime around 3.·00 a.m. on 4/12/81, but did not get up to see what it was.
Victimology
Glenna was in the process of getting a divorce from her husband, who was in the U.S. Navy
stationed at Groton, Connecticut at the time of the murders. She lived with her husband for several
years as a military wife. She is described as being a white adult, 5’2" tall, and weighing 100
pounds. Her husband was also of a small stature. She was an average looking woman who wore
glasses and had short hair. She was not a fancy dresser and was best described by casual
associates and neighbors as a loner. Her only source of income was as a CETA workers, wherein
she was paid to attend college, and learn a business trade. She was described as being a good
student who studied hard and obtained good grades. She received $250.00 a month through the
U.S. Navy from her husband. She had no local criminal record or was known to use drugs or
alcohol. No drugs or alcohol were found in the house at the time of the murders. She was
described as being a poor mother who lacked the ability to supervise her children.
John Sharp was described as a white juvenile, 5’ 5 1/2" tall, weighing 105 pounds. He was
a student at Quincy High School with no prior arrest record in Plumas County. He was described
as having few close friends, with Dana Wingate, the third victim at the residence, as his closest
friend. He also associated with the neighbor family (Meeks). His primary associate was with
Richard Meeks (age 15), who was the father of a child with John’s sister Sheila. John was known
to use and possibly sell marijuana, but the frequency is unclear. He is also known to drink beer.
He did not have a job or have any source of income. His primary source of transportation was
hitchhiking around the Quincy and Keddie area. He had no known enemies at the time he was
murdered. Associates described John as an aggressive individual who was prone to fighting. Due
to the lack of supervision, he was known to spend weekends away from his residence, supposedly
staying at the homes of friends in the Quincy area.
Dana Wingate was described as being white, 5’10", weighing 140 pounds. He lived in a
foster home in Quincy, having been placed there by the Plumas County Probation Department in
1979. Prior to that he lived with his father who also lived in Quincy. His mother was convicted of
drug use in the South Lake Tahoe area, approximately 110 miles from Quincy. His father was
known as the "town drunk", who supported himself doing odd jobs around the area. Dana was
suspected of using marijuana. He was also a known diabetic who required regular insulin shots.
For this reason it is suspected that he was not a heavy user of drugs or alcohol because of his
reliance on insulin and the reported adverse reactions they have when mixed. Dana attended
Quincy High School. He was placed on probation after being charged with torturing a cat in the
Quincy area. He and another friend injected the cat with a quantity of insulin and the friend then
burned the cat alive
and the friend then
burned the cat alive. He was described as an individual who was afraid to accept responsibility for
himself and probably would not defend himself if provoked. He was known to have a more adult
sense of humor, and was suspected to be having sexual intercourse with a 27 year old unmarried
woman in Quincy. He had no known enemies at the time of his murder.
Tina Sharp was described as being a white juvenile, 4’10", weighing approximately 90
pounds. She looked physically younger than her actual age. She was described as being sweet and
innocent, although she was known to be jealous of her older sister Sheila’s physical appearance.
Tina had been listed as a possible victim of sexual abuse involving another I2 year old girl and a 50
year old man from another area in California. The man was arrested and charged, but the charges
were later dropped for lack of a creditable witness. Subsequent investigation determined that Tina
and the other 12 year old girl may have had previous sexual contact with this individual, possibly on
a voluntary basis. Tina was known to have 'forts' and hide outs in the hills near her home where
she often went to play alone, sometimes taking friends with her. Nothing unusual was found at these
forts or hide outs.
Details of Case
The three victims found at the residence were discovered at 8:00 am. on 4/12/81 by
Glenna 's 14 year old daughter, Sheila Sharp. Sheila had left her residence the night before at
approximately 10:00 pm. to spend the night at the neighbors house. Glenna had a total of 5
children, John, Sheila, Tina, and two other younger children (not identified in the documentation
received from the Sheriff’s Department or the VICAP summaries). At the time Sheila left her
Justin Smart, age 7), had just finished watching television and were getting ready for bed. Her
brother John, and best friend Dana, were last reported seen hitchhiking from Quincy toward Keddie
at approximately 10:00 pm on 4/11/81. This is the last time they were reported being seen alive.
It is unknown what time they arrived back at the Sharp residence or how they got there.
All three victims were found in the living room, bound hand and foot. Dana was bound at
the ankles by electrical cord, which was also attached to John’s ankles. John’s hands were bound
with adhesive tape. Glenna had electrical wire wrapped around her ankles and pulled up and
wrapped around her wrists. The electrical cord used was obtained from appliances in the Sharp’s
residence. It should also be noted that Dana’s ankles were loosely bound compared to Glenna and
John’s. Glenna and John had been stabbed and beaten to death. Dana was not stabbed, but
sustained severe head trauma from being bludgeoned and strangled. Glenna’s panties and adhesive
tape were stuffed in her mouth and secured by a bandanna and hat band that were tied around her
mouth. The other three juveniles sleeping in an adjacent room in the house at the time of the
murders were unharmed. There was no evidence of sexual assault on any of the victims, or any
items of value missing from the residence.
Glenna was found laying on the floor next to the couch wearing only a housecoat, and her
body had been covered with a blanket and sheet after she was killed. The sheet and blanket had
come from Tina’s bed. John and Dana were found fully clothed laying next to each other on the
floor. One of the cushions from the couch had been placed under Dana’s head, which appeared to
have been placed there prior to his being beaten. Sheila Sharp told investigators that a pair of
Tina’s brown lace up shoes and red coat were missing. The murder weapons were a claw hammer,
a steak knife, a butcher knife, and possibly a pellet rifle. The hammer was obtained from a tool box
on the back porch of the residence, and the knives were obtained from a drawer in the kitchen. The
hammer and knives were left at the scene near the bodies. The rifle was not located, however, the
front ramp sight of the rifle was found on the floor next to one of the victims, indicating it may have
been used to beat the victims in addition to the hammer.
Blood was spattered throughout the living room and was also found in Glenna and Tina's
room. Numerous small knife marks were found in the living room walls, which Sheila stated were
not there prior to the murders. Specific information related to the recovery of Tina’s remains are
unknown, except that only her skull and some bones were found approximately 3 years after the
murders and were used for identification purposes. The cause of Tina’s death was not determined.
Justin Smart, one of the three children who were in the house but left unharmed, told
investigators that they had watched the television show "Love Boat" prior to going to bed.
Sometime during the night he heard a "thumping" sound. He then talked about a dream he’d had
about being on the Love Boat with Glenna, wherein he described two men attack and stab her, then
jumped off the boat. Justin said he then lifted Glenna’s blouse and saw blood coming from her left
breast area. He put a rag on it to try and stop the bleeding. Justin was subsequently placed under
hypnosis two separate times to obtain a more detailed description of the two men he saw in his
dream. It was speculated by a child psychologist, that perhaps Justin in fact witnessed the murders,
but it was too traumatic for him to relate to in reality, therefore it was a dream. Composite
drawings of the two men Justin described were put in the local papers, but resulted with no
substantial leads
front ramp sight of the rifle was found on the floor next to one of the victims, indicating it may have
been used to beat the victims in addition to the hammer.
Blood was spattered throughout the living room and was also found in Glenna and Tina's
room. Numerous small knife marks were found in the living room walls, which Sheila stated were
not there prior to the murders. Specific information related to the recovery of Tina’s remains are
unknown, except that only her skull and some bones were found approximately 3 years after the
murders and were used for identification purposes. The cause of Tina’s death was not determined.
Justin Smart, one of the three children who were in the house but left unharmed, told
investigators that they had watched the television show "Love Boat" prior to going to bed.
Sometime during the night he heard a "thumping" sound. He then talked about a dream he’d had
about being on the Love Boat with Glenna, wherein he described two men attack and stab her, then
jumped off the boat. Justin said he then lifted Glenna’s blouse and saw blood coming from her left
breast area. He put a rag on it to try and stop the bleeding. Justin was subsequently placed under
hypnosis two separate times to obtain a more detailed description of the two men he saw in his
dream. It was speculated by a child psychologist, that perhaps Justin in fact witnessed the murders,
but it was too traumatic for him to relate to in reality, therefore it was a dream. Composite
drawings of the two men Justin described were put in the local papers, but resulted with no
substantial leads.
CASE ANALYSIS
Observations/Perceptions
The offender demonstrated a great deal of control in order to subdue, bind and gag, and
murder three full grown individuals. This indicates that there was either more than one offender, or
one of the victims assisted the offender with binding the other victims. Glenna was dressed in a
night shirt, yet John and Dana were fully clothed. This would indicate that the boys either
interrupted the attack on Glenna, or they may have been picked up hitchhiking by the offender(s)
and entered the residence with them. Glenna was gagged and had been bound much more securely
than the other two victims. She also sustained defense wounds on her arms and hands. She also
had blood on the bottom of her feet indicating she had walked through some blood prior to being
bound. The scene also reflects that the offender(s) did not plan on killing all the victims, or killing
them was an afterthought based on the weapons that were used, which came from inside the
residence.
The offender(s) spent a fair amount of time in the house in order to gain control, bind, and
kill the victims. However, the scene indicates that the offender(s) left immediately after killing the
victims. The three younger children were left unharmed in the next room, either because the
offender(s) did not know they were there (indicating they were in a hurry), or there may have been
some proprietary interest on the part of the offender(s). The offender(s) also used a vehicle, in
order to kidnap Tina, plus the nearest town is at least 7 miles away, and they would have been seen
walking on the highway by someone.
Sex and money was not the motive for the three murders. However, it is unknown if Tina
was sexually assaulted before being killed. The fact that Tina left willingly (i.e., put on her shoes
and a coat), indicates that there may have been a bond between Tina and the offender. Tina’s
subsequent murder was probably a result of the offender's fear that she would go to the police. If
the intent of the offender was to abduct Tina for sexual purposes, he probably killed her shortly after
she was kidnapped, because Plumas County and the area where Tina’s remains were found is very
rural, and the publicity of this case would have resulted in someone identifying her if she was not
hiding out or being held captive.
The covering up of Glenna’s body after she was killed, and the pillow being placed under
Dana’s head demonstrates "undoing " on the part of the offender. This, coupled with the battering
of the victims faces indicates that the offender knew the victims. Tina may have placed the blanket
on her mother, or if Justin did in fact witness the murder of Glenna, he may have covered her body
after the offender(s) left, feeling that she should not be seen partially clothed.
There had been no other similar violent crimes reported prior to, or subsequent the Keddie
murders within a hundred mile radius of the area. No evidence of ritualism or religiosity were
found at the scene. All the victims were at high risk of being involved in a violent crime. The
mother had little or no control of her 5 children. The older three of five children were often gone
overnight, unsupervised, as demonstrated by the 14 year old daughter becoming pregnant by the 15
year old neighbor boy (Richard Meeks). John and Dana’s primary mode of transportation was by
hitchhiking in a remote mountainous area frequented by transients and individuals of low socio-
economic status. Both boys did not have many friends, and were not high achievers in any respect.
The same can be said for Glenna, who was living from hand to mouth on minimal support and
welfare.
The offender responsible for the four murders displayed the following characteristics
with those of a psychopath:
Absence of Guilt: The crime scene reflected a lot of anger and rage on one hand and remorse and
guilt on the other. Since it is unknown whether the offender or Tina or Justin placed the blanket
over Glenna’s body and the pillow under Dana’s head, the remorse may not been that of the
offender. The manner in which the three victims were killed indicates a lack of guilt, as does the
subsequent murder of Tina. The offender most likely rationalized the need to kill the victims,
placing blame on them for being at the wrong place, saying the wrong thing, etc.
Immediate Satisfaction: What ever the motive was for the murders, the offender wanted it right
then. He was not willing to wait for another time wherein he may not have had to kill the victims to
prevent him from getting what he wanted. This was evidenced by the weapons used and the bindings
coming from inside the victim ’s residence.
Extroverted: There was no evidence of forced entry into the residence, another indicator that the
offender knew the victims. In order for the offender to gain access into the residence, gain control
of the victims, and take Tina with him, he must have played against reactions of all the victims,
especially Tina. The offender demonstrated control and confidence, consistent with someone who is
generally outgoing and accepted by others, even looked up to.
Disregard for Community or Group Standards of Behavior: The need to kill all the victims
demonstrates the offenders loyalty only to himself Brutally murdering women and children is the
ultimate disregard for acceptable social standards.
Dependence on Others: The offender demonstrated the need to kidnap Tina, whether it was for sex
or love is unknown. Being able to control and murder four people without being caught would
suggest the offender’s need to build his ego at the expense of his victims. It definitely presents a
challenge to the offender, resulting in stimulation and excitement.
Sexual Experimentation: None of the victims found at the residence displayed any signs of sexual
assault. However, it is unknown if Tina was sexually assaulted prior to being murdered. The fact
that she was only 12 years old would suggest a fixation on young females.
Inability to Form Interpersonal Relationships: Since the crime scene indicates the offender knew the victims, especially John and Glenna, this demonstrates the offenders ability to gain the confidence
and acceptance of others, yet turn around and beat them to death if they feel it necessary.
Fails to Learn by Punishment: The control and confidence demonstrated by the offender indicates
that he is not a juvenile, and has committed other significant crimes before. He most likely has a
criminal history, which demonstrates he does not learn from punishment for past crimes.
The crime scene displayed characteristics of both an organized and disorganized offender.
The reasons for this would be best explained if there was more than one offender. The following
characteristics of the crime scene are consistent with those of an organized offender:
- The kidnapping appeared to have been a planned event.
- The crime scene reflected allot of control, with submissive action on the part of Dana.
- Restraints were used on all the victims.
- There was a great deal of aggressive violent behavior in the course of murdering the victims,
and there was no signs of sexual acts prior to or after death.
The following characteristics of the crime scene are consistent with those of a disorganized
offender:
- The murders of the three victims at the residence appeared to have been an afterthought and
were unplanned.
- The offender was familiar with the Sharp’s residence, and he was known by the victims.
- There was minimal conversation between victims and offender, except that which was
necessary to gain control.
- The crime scene was sloppy, bindings and weapons were obtained from and left at the
residence, and potential witnesses were left unharmed.
- The attack on the victims was sudden and very violent, probably triggered by resistance,
especially by John.
- The bodies of Glenna, John, and Dana were left in view at the death scene.
- No efforts were made to hide the weapons used to kill the victims. Blood was spattered
throughout the crime scene.
Summary:
Based on the demographics of violence profile, an analysis of the crime scene, and
characteristics of anti-social behavior displayed by the offender, it can be concluded that the person
responsible for this triple homicide, kidnapping, and subsequent fourth murder is a psychopathic,
disorganized or perhaps an inexperienced organized offender who is not likely to benefit from any
form of punishment or attempts at rehabilitation