Car Pulled from River May Solve 66-Year Mystery of Missing Oregon Family

A 66-year-old mystery took a significant step toward resolution on Friday, March 7, 2025, when a crane hoisted a Ford station wagon from the Columbia River, believed to be linked to the disappearance of the Martin family from Oregon. The family of five—Ken and Barbara Martin and their daughters Barbara (14), Virginia (13), and Sue (11)—vanished on December 7, 1958, during a trip to gather Christmas greenery. After two days of dredging near Cascade Locks, about 40 miles east of Portland, the vehicle emerged, though no human remains were found inside. The car’s body detached during the lift, leaving only the frame and wheels to be recovered.

The discovery, led by diver Archer Mayo after seven years of searching, has reignited hope of closure in a case that gripped the nation. Mayo located the upside-down vehicle 50 feet underwater, buried in mud and debris, last fall. “This is a big development in a case that’s haunted Portland for decades,” said Ian Costello, Mayo’s representative. Authorities, including Hood River County Sheriff’s Deputy Pete Hughes, are confident it matches the Martins’ red-and-white station wagon, citing its color, make, and model. The car will now be analyzed in a warehouse to confirm its identity via engine and chassis numbers.

The Martins’ disappearance sparked widespread speculation, with a $1,000 reward offered in 1959. Five months later, the bodies of Sue and Virginia were found in the river, but Ken, Barbara, and their eldest daughter remained missing. Evidence like a credit card purchase and a diner sighting narrowed the search to the Columbia Gorge. As forensic teams probe this latest find, the fate of the Martins may finally come into focus.