5 Friends Vanished After a Basketball Game, 17 Weeks Later a Chilling Discovery

The Disappearance of the Yuba County 5

On the night of February 24th, 1978, five friends from Yuba City, California, set off to watch a basketball game at Chico State University. The friends—Gary Matias, Bill Sterling, Jack Madruga, Jack Hwitt, and Ted Wer—were in high spirits, ready for an evening of sports and camaraderie. However, they never returned home. After several days of searching, their car, a Mercury Montego, was discovered abandoned deep in the Plum's National Forest, far from their intended route back home. The car was in perfect working condition—there was fuel, the engine was running, and the keys were missing—but the doors were left unlocked. Despite the freezing temperatures and thick snow, no signs of struggle, footprints, or any trace of the five men were found near the car. The mystery surrounding their sudden disappearance only grew as authorities launched an extensive search operation that failed to uncover any meaningful clues. The car could have been easily driven back, but instead, it was left in a desolate area. No one could explain why they had ventured into such an unforgiving and isolated location. As time passed, the case grew colder, and the families were left in a perpetual state of despair, wondering what had happened to their loved ones.

The Discovery of Ted Wer's Body

Months later, a breakthrough came when a group of motorcyclists exploring the wilderness of Plum's National Forest discovered a remote Forest Service trailer. Inside, they found the body of Ted Wer, one of the five missing men. His body was wrapped tightly in blankets, and his appearance suggested that he had been alive for several weeks before dying from starvation and exposure to the elements. What made this discovery so haunting was not just the location of the trailer, but the fact that it contained ample supplies, including food, a propane tank for heating, and heavy winter clothing—none of which had been used.

Ted's body had been left alone in the trailer, and despite being surrounded by everything he needed to survive, he did not attempt to use any of the available resources. His feet had become severely frostbitten, and his long beard indicated that he had survived for a considerable period before succumbing to the harsh conditions. Why had he not used the supplies to save himself? Why had he chosen to wait and eventually die rather than attempt to find help? These questions only deepened the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the Yuba County 5. Furthermore, while Ted's body was found in the trailer, there was no sign of the others, raising even more questions about what had happened to them. The discovery of Ted's body did not provide any answers, but rather intensified the enigma.

The Lives of the Yuba County 5

Before the tragedy struck, the Yuba County 5 were simply five young men leading relatively ordinary lives in Yuba City, California. Despite facing personal challenges, each man had their own dreams, ambitions, and a deep bond of friendship. Gary Matias, who had struggled with schizophrenia for years, had recently found stability through medication. His life was on the up, and he had dreams of holding a steady job and continuing to rebuild his life. Jack Madruga, with a low IQ, was fiercely independent, working hard to maintain a sense of normalcy. He had served in the US Army and cherished his prized 1969 Mercury Montego, which he used to transport his friends on weekends. 

Bill Sterling, with a developmental disability, was the gentle heart of the group. A devout Christian, he was kind-hearted, loved reading, and had a deep sense of warmth and loyalty to his friends. Jack Hwitt, the youngest, had a childlike innocence and was filled with enthusiasm for life. His love for nature, sports, and laughter made him a cherished friend. Ted Wer, the oldest of the group, had a mild intellectual disability but was known for his larger-than-life personality. He was always the life of the party, volunteering with the Special Olympics and sharing his love for sports with his friends. Together, they formed an inseparable group. Their friendship was built on mutual respect, love, and support, qualities that made them feel like brothers. They spent weekends together, watching basketball games, going to movies, and supporting each other through the ups and downs of life. Their families were proud of the men they had become—independent, responsible, and full of love for one another.

Theories and Unanswered Questions

As the weeks turned into months, the mystery of the Yuba County 5 deepened, leaving investigators and the families with more questions than answers. Despite numerous search efforts, theories continued to surface, but none provided a satisfactory explanation. One of the prevailing theories was that the men had somehow become disoriented after leaving the basketball game, driving down the wrong path into the mountains and then, confused and frightened, abandoning the car to walk into the wilderness. However, this theory was hard to accept. The men were not reckless, and the idea that they would venture so far into an unfamiliar, snow-covered wilderness without a plan seemed implausible. Even more perplexing was the fact that Jack Madruga, who was known to dislike the cold, would never have driven up that treacherous mountain road willingly. Additionally, there was no sign of any violent struggle, and the Mercury Montego was in perfect working order, suggesting that the car had not broken down.

As rumors and whispers of foul play circulated, one local man claimed to have seen a group of people matching the men's description near the car the night they disappeared, but his account was vague and unreliable. Other leads, such as an anonymous phone call with cryptic directions, led nowhere. Theories about a psychotic break, drugs, or even a sinister group forcing the men into the mountains were all suggested but lacked any solid evidence. The absence of any signs of foul play, such as blood or fingerprints, and the untouched supplies in the trailer only added to the confusion. The mystery surrounding the Yuba County 5 grew colder as time went on, leaving the families to wonder if they would ever find the answers they so desperately sought. Even today, decades later, the question remains: What really happened to the Yuba County 5? Were they lost, or did something darker intervene that night?