On Thursday morning, deputies closed off the road to Cascade Locks Marine Park. They were waiting for salvage divers from the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office to explore a decades-old mystery.
In December 1958, a Portland family, Ken and Barbara Martin, along with their three young daughters, went missing while searching for a Christmas tree. They were in a cream-colored Ford station wagon and never returned home.
Authorities launched a massive search, but nothing was found. The family’s story captured national attention, leading to countless false sightings reported across the country. A year later, sadly, the bodies of two of the Martins’ daughters were discovered in the Columbia River near Bonneville Dam. The rest of the family, along with their car, remained unaccounted for.
Fast forward to today, Archer Mayo, a professional auctioneer and experienced diver, took a personal interest in the Martins’ case. He found the idea that the mystery might never be solved troubling. “When someone says nobody can do it, I think I want to do it,” Mayo said as he prepared for the dive. He started his search in 2018 using predictive modeling based on where the two girls’ bodies were found.
Recently, after years of searching, he located a car submerged about 50 feet underwater. He alerted authorities, and a dredging operation began. Emerging from the sludge, they believed it was very likely the Martin family’s missing car.
“More than circumstantial evidence points us to believe it’s the Martin car,” said Sheriff Matt English. However, it’s still uncertain if the car contains the remains of the missing family members.
Mayo acknowledged that diving in March can be challenging due to low visibility, yet he has experience in the area. He created a guide for divers to navigate safely during the salvage operation, ensuring that any potential evidence remains intact. Sheriff English emphasized the need for careful handling during the extraction of the vehicle.
Officials have also communicated with surviving members of the Martin family, keeping them informed about developments. Over the years, there has been speculation about what happened to the family. Some theories even suggested foul play, but Mayo believes it was simply an accident where Ken Martin miscalculated while driving in the area.
For now, the fate of the Martin family remains a mystery. Sheriff English noted that, even after 66 years, it is a tragic case that deserves thorough investigation. “We need to determine to the best of our ability what happened to this family,” he said.
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