In February 1978, five young men from Yuba City, California, vanished after attending a college basketball game. Their car was later discovered abandoned in the Plumas National Forest—miles from their homes, deep in the mountains, with no clear reason why they would have been there. Months later, four of their bodies were found under chilling circumstances: some starved, some frozen, one in a cabin that could have saved them if only the supplies inside had been used. The fifth man, Gary Mathias, was never found. To this day, their fate remains one of the most haunting mysteries in American true crime.

Join us on this episode of Three Theories as we examine three unsettling possibilities behind the disappearance and deaths of the Yuba County Five. Were they lost and confused, victims of a tragic accident compounded by their vulnerabilities? Did they cross paths with someone dangerous in the wilderness that night? Or could something far stranger—something that defies explanation—have driven them to their end? What do you believe?

At Three Theories Podcast, we encourage you to explore beyond the podcast to form your own theories.

Click the links below to dive deeper into the mystery and discover additional information and new perspectives. Engage with the material, question everything, and join us on social media to continue the discussion and uncover the truth. Together, we can explore the stories that challenge our understanding and ignite our imagination.

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Disclaimer: This podcast episode contains dramatized and imagined elements for storytelling purposes. While we strive to provide accurate and factual information based on available evidence and research, certain perspectives and details have been fictionalized and AI voice technology is used to enhance the narrative and listener experience. Listener discretion is advised.