What happened to the Yuba County Five? Netflix's 'Files of the Unexplained' delves into California's baffling missing case
YUBA CITY, CALIFORNIA: The case of the Yuba County Five, covered in Netflix's docuseries 'Files of the Unexplained', is one of many unsolved mysteries that are characterized by unexpected developments and confusing details, leaving both law enforcement and the public with more questions than answers.
Five men returning from a college basketball game in California ended up getting lost in the mountains after traveling in the wrong direction. They left their car in a snowy forest, leading to their confusion and disorientation.
The fate of the Yuba County Five, who disappeared almost 50 years ago, remains a mystery as only four men were found and the fifth one is still missing, as per Historic Mysteries.
The Yuba County Five consisted of five young men hailing from Yuba City, California, who formed a close bond while playing together on a local basketball team designed for individuals with mental disabilities.
Among these individuals were Ted Weiher, the oldest member at 32 years old, who exhibited signs of Autism, and Jack Madruga, 30 years old, who was characterized as a slower learner.
Additionally, there were Will Sterling, a 29-year-old with intellectual disabilities, and Jackie Huett, a 24-year-old man with both physical and mental disabilities, although the specifics were not disclosed.
Rounding out the group was 25-year-old Gary Matthais, who had previously served in the army while stationed in West Germany. During his time there, Gary developed a heavy drug habit, which ultimately led to his discharge from the military due to a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
Throughout his life, Gary had experienced numerous stays in mental health institutions, but during the events of this narrative, he was under treatment with antipsychotic medication and was reportedly showing signs of improvement.
The individuals in question resided in their own households alongside their own parents, yet they were self-reliant in their daily lives and even maintained employment. Jack Madruga, a former member of the armed forces, possessed a valid driver's license and an adored vintage car - a charming turquoise and white 1969 Mercury Montego.
The Yuba County Five eagerly anticipated their upcoming basketball game. This highly anticipated event, organized by the Special Olympics, promised the winning team a coveted prize - a week-long all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles. The boys were determined and focused on emerging victorious to secure this exciting opportunity.
The Yuba County Five went missing after driving 50 miles to Chico, California to watch a basketball game on February 24, 1978. They never returned home.
The police authorities investigated Yuba County Five's missing case
The parents became worried when their sons did not return home, prompting a police search. The boys were missing after being excited about a game, suggesting something had happened.
Despite searching the route the boys would have taken, they were not found, leading to a mysterious turn in the case. A ranger spotted a car matching the description of a missing man's vehicle in the Plumas National Forest, prompting police to investigate and find the car.
It was unclear why the missing man's car was there or why he and his companions were in the area, as their families said they had no reason to be in the mountains during snowy conditions.
The forest was located more than 70 miles northeast of Chico, which was in the opposite direction of where the boys needed to go to get back home. The car was stuck in a snow drift, indicating that the Yuba County Five had attempted to free the car.
The police believed that the five men could have easily moved the car out of the snowdrift because they were physically fit. The car did not have any keys, but it started without any issues when it was hotwired. Additionally, it had a sufficient amount of gas in the tank.
The Montego car was carefully driven or driven by someone familiar with the area as there were no damages despite the rough terrain. Madruga, who had never been to Plumas, went missing and a search was initiated. However, the search had to be halted due to snowstorms, but the police sought help from the public for any information regarding the missing Yuba County Five.
What were the causes of deaths of Yuba County Five?
In June 1978, a Forest Service trailer was discovered by a group of bikers at a campsite located 19.4 miles away from where the Montego car was left abandoned. Inside the trailer was Weiher's decomposing body, and the surroundings were peculiar.
Weiher's body was found on a bed, covered in sheets, with frostbitten and gangrenous feet. The coroner estimated that he had not shaved for at least 13 weeks before his death based on the length of his beard.
Weiher's cause of death was determined to be hypothermia and starvation, which was confusing given the available resources in the cabin. Despite having matches, kindling, a butane tank, and warm clothing, Weiher did not survive. Additionally, twelve empty army ration cans were found on the floor, but there was a fully stocked pantry with enough food to sustain all five individuals for a year.
Weiher's family mentioned his lack of common sense due to his disability, sharing an incident where he ignored a fire in his bedroom because he was afraid of being late for work. However, it was discovered that Weiher may not have been alone in the trailer during this time.
Authorities believe that Mathias and possibly Huett, who were still missing, were also present. Mathias's shoes were found in the trailer, and the cans of food that had been consumed were opened with a specific military can opener that only Madruga or Mathias would know how to use, based on their military experience.
The police changed their direction and began searching along a road leading from Montego to the trailer, where they discovered the scattered remains of Madruga and Sterling. Autopsies confirmed that their deaths were due to hypothermia.
Authorities believe that one of the boys may have succumbed to hypothermia and laid down to rest, leading to the death of the other boy who stayed with him. Two days after the boys were found, the remains of another boy, Jackie Huett, were discovered.
Sadly, four out of the Yuba County Five died in the forest, with the whereabouts of Mathias remaining a mystery. It is believed that he took Weiher's shoes, which would have been a better fit for his frostbitten feet, but his remains have not been discovered after 47 years, even though he was last seen in the trailer where he left his own shoes.
What is the theory of the Yuba County Five?
The Yuba County Five cold case remains intriguing due to the unknown reason and events surrounding their disappearance. The boys' presence at the location continues to puzzle investigators.
One theory suggested that the boys may have gone to visit Mathias's friends, but it was found out that they hadn't been in contact for a long time.
It is possible that Mathias continued walking after Huett's death, as he had a reputation for being able to cover long distances on foot. For example, he once walked over 500 miles after escaping from an asylum.
Police shared photos of Mathias with the local hospital and morgue, but there was no sight of him. It is believed that Mathias, who was a paranoid schizophrenic, may have been suffering from hallucinations due to not having his medication, leading him to wander away from the car in a confused state.
"There was some force that made ‘em go up there. They wouldn’t have fled off into the woods like a bunch of quail. We know good and well that somebody made them do it," Jack's mom told the reporters, according to Historic Mysteries.
On the other hand, Weiher's sister-in-law stated, “They seen something at that game, at the parking lot. They might have seen it and didn’t even realize they seen it.”
Mathias's stepfather thought the men in the trailer didn't build a fire because they were scared of being discovered. Former Yuba County sheriff Jack Beecham described the case as “bizarre as hell.”
'Files of the Unexplained' airs on Netflix on April 3, 2024