On February 24, 1978, five men drove from Yuba City to Chico, California to watch a college basketball game. It was supposed to be a simple night out.

They never came home.

Days later, their car was found abandoned on a remote mountain road in Plumas National Forest — undamaged, fueled, and locked. Four sets of footprints led uphill into the snow.

What followed was a months-long search, a remote forest service trailer stocked with supplies, one man who survived for weeks, and one who was never found at all.

In this episode, we examine the facts surrounding the Yuba County 5 case — who these men were, what we know happened that night, and the theories that continue to surround their disappearance.

Was this misadventure? Panic? Mental health? Foul play? Or simply a tragic chain of decisions made in the dark?

This is a story about routine, vulnerability, autonomy, and how quickly ordinary can turn into irreversible.

William Sterling

Jack Hewitt

Jack Madruga

Ted Weir

Gary Mathias

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New episodes every other Tuesday.

Research & Writing: Jenn Syx

Production: House of Syx

Hosted by: Jenn Syx & Jared Syx