On March 7, 2025, a significant discovery was made in the Columbia River. A vehicle was pulled from the waters, believed to be linked to the Martin family, who mysteriously vanished in 1958. The retrieval was executed by a crane, as confirmed by authorities.
The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office revealed that an independent diver named Archer Mayo found the car near Cascade Locks. Deputy Pete Hughes of the sheriff’s office provided details about the Martin family, which comprised a father, Kenneth, a mother, Barbara, and their three daughters. They went missing on December 7, 1958, during a trip to search for Christmas greenery in the Columbia River Gorge.
Family and friends reported their disappearance, recalling how the Martins had planned to look for holiday decorations. After they failed to return, subsequent investigations uncovered a gas receipt traced to Cascade Locks and a witness who claimed to have seen the family at a local café. However, despite these leads, no concrete answers were found, leaving the case open and the family memories unresolved.
Tragically, in May 1959, the bodies of two of the daughters, Virginia and Susan, were recovered from the same river, but Kenneth, Barbara, and their eldest daughter, also named Barbara, were never found.
As retrieval efforts resumed, Deputy Hughes mentioned that clearing the car from the river could take time. He noted that many theories surrounding the family’s fate had arisen over the years, and this situation has prompted a renewed investigation. “We have an investigative team starting fresh,” Hughes said. “We’re utilizing forensics with the Oregon State Crime Lab in hopes of finally uncovering what happened to them.” This case represents a glimmer of hope for closure after decades of unanswered questions.
The community remains hopeful as they await further updates on the investigation and the potential impact of this new evidence.
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Source linkColumbia River Gorge | Hood River | Police
