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Post by snoho17 on Sept 19, 2021 22:00:43 GMT -6
View AttachmentThese are my thoughts, and they are based on what was going on with Mike Gamberg before, during and after the murders. This information is based on articles in the Feather River Bulletin, so I guess you could say this information is VETTED. I have said before, if your really interested in this case you need to subscribe to Newspaper.com to get all the information on what was going on at the time of these murders. You can subscribe for the 7 day free trial and you will not be disappointed. 7 Feb. 1974: Mike Gamberg, 27 of Chester joined the Plumas Co Sheriffs Dept. Feb 1. He was previously employed by Safeway in Quincy. He previously taught Judo and Jujitsu to the police officers in the Bay Area. He also worked with Juveniles in Freemont, Union City 1975: Mike Gamberg, instructor for adult lessons in Judo at the FRC. May 26, 1977 He is quoted as saying, in an article titled "County Law enforcers "back in the dark ages". I bring home $157.00 a week and a family cannot live on that protested Gamberg. The people in this community are making us second class citizens." Oct 19.1978: Mike Gamberg Fired: the reasons given are: 1. Failure to show interest in job. (lateness of reports, continual tardiness, questionable absenses, careless handling of weapons, failure to make required follow ups. 2. Conduct unbecoming an officer. (threatening citizens while in uniform in public places, tardiness in paying debts, carelessness involving weapons 3. Falsification of reports after warning. Jan 11, 1979 Gamberg wins back job. The judge said the records clearing show he was an extremely poor "paper work" deputy. He also found Gamberg to be guilty of nine "minor incidents of censurable conduct." The hearing officer also discounted Gambergs claims that Sheriff Thomas' actions against him were political. (THIS HEARING TOOK PLACE IN SUSANVILLE) March 4, 1981: Mike Gamberg fired from Sheriffs Dept Quote from Doug Thomas regarding the firing: "When you are personally involved like I was the last time this happened to Mike, it's hard to say it isn't political. This is the action of the superiors," Thomas claimed. They wrote him up for the report thing. He was told after the last time (termination) in writing that he would fill out reports properly, Thomas said. Just because you make a few big arrest, it doesn't mean you are excluded from routine things like filling out reports. I understand some of them had wrong dates, sometimes incorrect information, some were sloppily done or not done at all. Thomas said Gamberg had not worked for the past few weeks because of a job related injury. Thomas also went on to say he had filed workman's com. citing administration related stress. April 1, 1981 He wrote an editorial on his unfair treatment by Doug Thomas. HE WAS NOT EMPLOYED WITH THE POLICE DEPT. AT THE TIME OF THE KEDDIE MURDERS July 14, 1982: Jack brown has re opened the Keddie back door lounge recently once again offering complete cocktail service. According to Brown's manager MIKE GAMBERG of Quincy, most weekends will feature live music. March 22, 1989: I'll just refer to this as the cat story. Maybe I will copy and paste this story if I have time. May 8, 1991: Plumas Co Sheriff's Deputy Michael Gamberg has filed a civil lawsuit seeking $850,000 in damages in a slander suit. Nov 17, 1993: A conversation between new district attorney Jim Reichle and a reporter Q:I appears that the old prosecuter had a lot of cases back up A: Ha ha, that's an understatement... Its taken a good 6 months to work through the stuff he refused to file on. I characterize the pile as being some 5 or 6 feet deep that simply were not acted on. I think at this point we've taken care of all were going to be able to take care of. He stated that he wouldn't touch anything that had the name (Detective Mike Gamberg) on it. These are just a few articles I copied. I hope they are not too jumbled and you can follow them. He blamed Doug Thomas for his firing just like he has blamed the unsolved Keddie murders on Doug Thomas." Ohhhhhh! That's the article I referenced earlier! (the thumbnail) And that's the thing, it wasn't Thomas who fired Gamberg (initially, the first time). He was recommended for unpaid suspension with probation. Before it was even implemented it was discovered he had stolen a unique knife from evidence (and lied about it), so he got the axe. Some people feel no shame. What an underqualified narcissist. I don't imagine he could get a job in parking enforcement anywhere else in the country, almost:). But the squeaky wheel gets the grease I guess.
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Post by hope on Sept 20, 2021 19:27:58 GMT -6
Glad you bumped this up. One of the things constantly repeated in regards to this case is how at the time of the murders Gamberg was warned off investigating them by then sheriff Doug Thomas. Its been pointed out several times in the past here that Gamberg was not even a PCSO employee at the time of the murders. He was fired 1 month prior. He was not reinstated to PCSO until 1983. Doug Thomas resigned as sheriff 3 months after the murders in 1981. Which means Doug Thomas never warned Gamberg off the investigation because the two them never even worked together after the murders. Here are just three examples of where this disinformation has been repeated as fact: (People Magazine) (Sacramento Bee 5/8/16)
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getem
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by getem on Sept 20, 2021 19:37:06 GMT -6
It's pretty obvious Gamberg is a lazy dullard. Which is why the only the only "evidence" unfolded during his tenure as "special investigator" was all initiated by Dmac...another confirmed dullard. Pretty sure he just jumped on a paying job.
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Post by hope on Sept 20, 2021 19:57:24 GMT -6
Here are newspaper articles from the time documenting the firing & showing the claims made cannot possibly be true. March 4, 1981May 13, 1981
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Post by hope on Sept 20, 2021 20:20:26 GMT -6
June 3, 1981
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Post by hope on Sept 20, 2021 20:23:28 GMT -6
May 5, 1983 article re: reinstatement with PCSO
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Post by hope on Dec 29, 2021 16:23:32 GMT -6
Just wanted to bump this so it doesn't get lost in the shuffle. "Politics" did play a role in this case, but not by DT. Looking at all the comments semi-retired "deputy sheriff" Mike Gamberg of Plumas County Sheriff's Office (including direct phone conversations I've had with him,) along with other comments various members of PCSO have made over the years, I think it's important to examine how big a role local politics has played in this case. Gamberg and Hagwood have always pushed this "Marty and Bo got away with it because Doug Thomas, Harry Bradley, and PA Crim were all corrupt." They imply very loudly that, if Gamberg had been sheriff at the time (he had run before, but never won) not only would he have "solved" the case, but he would have gotten convictions of both Bo and Marty. Other people have also claimed that corruption interfered with the case. Okay, let's take a look at the chronology. In 1978, right after Doug Thomas won election to Plumas County Sheriff, young Reserve Officer (part-time deputy) and narc Mike Gamberg was fired for taking the bingo money and other evidence home. He claims this was because he campaigned against the sheriff. There was a media brouhaha, an appeal of some kind, and Gamberg was REINSTATED BY SHERIFF THOMAS. He then claims that Dave DeCrona, his big rival, was somehow "corrupt," because DeCrona kept running around the county busting a whole bunch of pot farms. How BUSTING criminals makes him "corrupt" is not my point; my point is, Gamberg resents DeCrona busting pot farms. That's funny. Then, Doug Thomas, an outsider, moves there, and is elected on the platform that people want someone from outside the county to be the Sheriff, because some of them are sick of the corruption and partisan politics. They don't vote for GAMBERG on that basis, they literally vote for SOMEONE ELSE. Soon after, in March 1981, Gamberg is fired AGAIN for, again, stealing evidence and weapons from his "cases." The Cabin 28 murders happen DAYS LATER. Doug Thomas, the Outsider, calls in more OUTSIDE HELP. Two highly competent crime scene experts, and two crack detectives, from the California Department of Justice. Gamberg and others are FURIOUS about this. Geeeeee---I wonder why. The whoooooooole county clams up. The "investigators" who grew up there, who know every person in the county, come up with less than jack squat. The funny thing is, though, every time they talk to a potential witness BEFORE the Outsiders talk to them, those potential witnesses then give those Outsiders precisely jack squat. To this day, there has been plenty of "leaking" of the "reports" by Local PCSO officers talking to these witnesses, but obtaining the DOJ reports on follow-up interviews has been like pulling teeth. Except the Marty and Bo ones. The "failure" to "solve" this case destroys Thomas's "career" in Plumas, and he quits. I'm not defending Thomas. But I'm not surprised, either. Now, here is my point--Who do Gamberg and most of the other Insiders pin the murders on? Two OUTSIDERS--Bo and Marty. Who do they blame for not arresting Bo and Marty? OUTSIDERS. Gamberg seems to think that blaming "politics" for Bo and Marty "getting away with it" makes the OUTSIDERS look like their investigation of this case was selfish and corrupt. But, it really makes it look like GAMBERG and the Insiders are the ones playing Politics with this "Case." What I'm saying is, Gamberg himself is the one who loudly points out that HIS OWN motive for framing Marty and Bo is purely political--it's a shot aimed at Doug Thomas. (and Stoy and Forcino and several others.) I mean, it's not like a subsequent investigation (after Thomas resigned) cleared Gamberg's name. To what extent was this case sabotaged by Gamberg at the time? He shoots his mouth off about how close he was to the victims, to Marylin, etc. So, I asked him, what did you do to help with the investigation? "I was off the force because of political retaliation." Yeah, but, these were close friends of yours. The boys were martial arts students of yours. You grew up there. You knew all the Usual Suspects, all the Ne'er Do Wells, all the pervs. (He admitted he knew Cary Walke, among others.) What did you do on your own time to solve their murder and find Tina? "Nothing. I told you. I was off the force at the time." Yeah, but cracking this case on your own time would sure be a election platform, wouldn't it? "I never thought about that." You'd been fired because you lost the previous election to Doug Thomas, and you weren't planning to run again? "I wasn't thinking about that." So, you just sat on your ass, unemployed, and did NOTHING to bring your friends' killers to justice? "I don't have to answer that." Right. But the funny thing is, this bizarre and "unsolvable" multiple homicide of people well known to Gamberg DID turn out to be sweet, national TV revenge for Mike Gamberg. I mean, 90 percent of Gamberg's "case" against Marty and Bo comes down to his personal campaign against Doug Thomas. Funny. Not, funny like the Italian Army. Funny, like, this tuna salad smells funny.
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Post by anvilheadsix on Jan 8, 2022 16:01:40 GMT -6
Hi, I'm still kinda new to this and don't know the case as well as the rest of you, but is it true that Sheriff Doug Thomas lived in Cabin 28 before the Sharps did? Sorry if this has already been addressed.
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Post by snoho17 on Jan 9, 2022 1:27:03 GMT -6
I actually think he very well may have! It kinda tracks on one of our threads here. From reading old posts on some now long gone forums, the locals talked as if Thomas and another deputy lived in Keddie at different times. If I can find it, in one of these threads where we talk about this, someone posted a marriage announcement where doug thomas was married and lived in Quincy. Well I'm getting awful restless in quarantine, so I'll go for a quick scout and see if I can find that!
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Post by snoho17 on Jan 9, 2022 1:35:21 GMT -6
Wow that was a fast find for me! lucky thing we have an actual thread titled zodiackillerhoax1986.freeforums.net/thread/157/doug-thomas-live-keddie . Lol, I'd actually forgotten about this:) Anyway this is what Karis posted," Mar 2, 2018 at 6:52pm QuotelikePost OptionsPost by karis on Mar 2, 2018 at 6:52pm This statement comes from another forum: May 7, 2017: It's been confirmed: Thomas did, indeed, live in 28 JUST PRIOR to the Sharps. Now, I am not sure what this has to do with these horrible murders but I suspect it is a means to tie, in the minds of many, Doug and Marty. This was a small town and I don't find it suspicious that they may have known one another. This information comes from the Feather River Bulletin. I do not claim to know for sure whether or not he had ever lived in Keddie. I do know he is NEVER listed anywhere as living in Keddie. FRB is a wonderful source of information on all the people listed in this case for anyone who takes the time to study it. June 1980: Doug Thomas weds in Quincy, Ca. (Marriage May 24, 1980) July 9, 1980: Doug Thomas applies for a building permit for a deck ($600) OAK STREET Quincy (this is 4 months before Sue moves to Keddie) Now there was another Doug T. that shows up in FRB in 1984 (three years after sheriff Doug Thomas moves) He was hired as a high school counselor. It's obvious he was traveling between Chester and Jim Beckwouth and Quincy high schools. (this is also documented in FRB) Oct 8, 1980: Garage moving sale from 10 - 4 house 28 Keddie - 2 refrigerators; furniture, clothing (who was moving out of 28?) Henry Thompson is the only person to say he had been in the house because his brother had lived there. But I don't believe ( I will recheck) that was close to the time of the murders.
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Post by anvilheadsix on Jan 10, 2022 2:32:47 GMT -6
Thanks. I hadn't heard that before a few days ago. For a case that is said to be so rife with police corruption, that's an odd coincidence.
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Post by hope on Jan 10, 2022 7:44:16 GMT -6
Doug Thomas must have thought it was quite the coincidence as well, considering he put it on his "List of Idiosyncrasies". He brings up some interesting facts in that list. If people would take the time to research the items on that list they'd see it is not a list of his"coverup" concerns. Since you brought it up, here are some things that make no sense if DT, PSCO, DOJ, FBI, ME, etc were covering up these murders: 1.) Why would PCSO put in a request to the BAU/John Douglas? A completely voluntary request? What purpose would this serve besides extra risk in their coverup? Despite the claims, they couldn't just send "false information". The profile is based on crime scene photos, victimology, suspectology from similar crimes, etc. Not some "made up report" sent to them. The BAU had an entire procedural manual with a list of items local agencies were required to send with their request. The minor incorrect details within the typed report made no difference in Douglas' profile. 2.) It's claimed Crim & Bradley were corrupt but what about the FBI agents, DOJ crime scene technicians and other DOJ agents sent to Keddie? Were they allll corrupt too? The more "cooks in the kitchen" the more likely their supposed cover up plans would have been discovered.
3.) If this huge coverup occured for Marty Smartt why is his name still all over the files. All over. Don't you think they would have wiped all these statements about Marty being unstable, etc from their files?
4.) Why take the time to submit VICAP Summaries, again completely voluntary, shortly after the program became available?
5.) Why send Marty & Bo's fingerprints off for comparison to the unidentified print found in the cabin if LE knew they were guilty and were trying to cover it up?
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Post by snoho17 on Jan 10, 2022 13:52:24 GMT -6
Oooh, I'd forgotten about Dougs list also. But I'm glad you brought this up as I want another go at officer Forcino. Last night I was looking through my saved files and started rereading some of the news paper reports I'd actually thought to save lol. The Forcino family got in alllll sorts of trouble. Must've been hard being on the force when so many calls come in about your own family. He had a brother that lived in Keddie, but I couldn't find when. His sister, IIRC, was living in Keddie and bought 1/2 keg on that Saturday the 11th, think her name was Sharee? Forcino, I believe, had a relative living with Dana in the Dorris home, and it sounds like he was a familiar face there. Did officer Forcino know Dana? And if ya wanna wade into the conspiracy side (yes I do) officer Forcino was the last to handle some of the bio evidence retrieved from Johnny (those blond hairs that went missing). And way before I ever saw the above list, it was always rumored Forcino retired directly because of the Keddie case. I'd always taken that to mean it was just too much of an emotional toll on him (seems a totally legit reason), but here we have that fact making it to Dougs list. And I reallllllly wanna know why it did!
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Post by anvilheadsix on Jan 10, 2022 14:27:28 GMT -6
Since you brought it up, here are some things that make no sense if DT, PSCO, DOJ, FBI, ME, etc were covering up these murders: 1.) Why would PCSO put in a request to the BAU/John Douglas? A completely voluntary request? What purpose would this serve besides extra risk in their coverup? Despite the claims, they couldn't just send "false information". The profile is based on crime scene photos, victimology, suspectology from similar crimes, etc. Not some "made up report" sent to them. The BAU had an entire procedural manual with a list of items local agencies were required to send with their request. The minor incorrect details within the typed report made no difference in Douglas' profile. 2.) It's claimed Crim & Bradley were corrupt but what about the FBI agents, DOJ crime scene technicians and other DOJ agents sent to Keddie? Were they allll corrupt too? The more "cooks in the kitchen" the more likely their supposed cover up plans would have been discovered.
3.) If this huge coverup occured for Marty Smartt why is his name still all over the files. All over. Don't you think they would have wiped all these statements about Marty being unstable, etc from their files?
Agreed. I don't see a cover up, especially considering all of the agencies involved. I just think it's odd that the sheriff lived there before. In a small town, people know better than to do anything near a cop's house, especially the head cop, but word also travels fast in a small town so most people probably knew he had moved. Like I said, it's just odd. One of those Scooby-Doo "Jinkees" moments.
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Post by hope on Jan 10, 2022 15:33:27 GMT -6
Ah, gotcha! And good thoughts! I have wondered if that was why he included that item on his list. DT definitely made some waves when he became sheriff, disrupting Abernathy's long time reign of control, firing several officers for questionable misconduct. He had to have made some enemies. It is said DT had no LE experience, was an Insurance Salesman, who became sheriff. He actually had worked for PCSO since 1969 and held several different LE positions within the department.
He wrote "thought body was Jeff's". Was DT's son friends with the Johnny & Dana? Richard Meeks claimed in an old forum post that he was friends with him. Based on that entry, I think we can all understand how DT was probably feeling when he got that call about the murders. In his own writing he says he thought one of the bodies was his son, yet it's claimed he learned of the murders, knew right away it was Marty, called his crooked buddies from the DOJ - at their homes, from his home - & began the coverup.
That is crazy talk! So Crim & Bradley were able to just hop on a helicopter and head on over to Plumas County to run an investigation for the next several months+. And their superiors were ok with this? Them going rogue and being M.I.A for any other assignments? Nope no way. I suppose the easy out for that is claiming their boss was corrupt too. There's a chain of command for such things and they just happened to be the agents that were assigned to the case.
Such a big stink is made about "two Mafia Agents" being sent to investigate the murders. But that was the layout of the DOJ back in 1981! Organized & Violent Crimes were the same department/Investigators. I believe it was 1982(?) The Violent Crimes department was upgraded into what it is today.
This case is the perfect example of "making the evidence fit a theory". So much misinformation out there, rumor & speculation passed off as fact.
Snoho is right about Forcino and that entry of DTs. People who see "corruption & coverup" everywhere can see DT was worried Forcino was forced to retire because he wasn't in on the coverup/was onto it. Forcino did "retire" after the murders. He also appears to have gone through a significant change/decline - he portrayed some interesting post-murder behavior. His family had all sorts of connections to the victims, Keddie, the Dorris Home and many of them were also in and out of all sorts of trouble. Including Scott who ran Steven Howard & company. DT was wondering if Forcino knew something.
Snoho, that'd be awesome if you felt up to posting that stuff!
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