DNA Confirms Remains Found in Car in Oregon River Are of Missing 1958 Family

The Ford station wagon belonging to the Martin family was discovered in the Columbia River in 2024 by a diver who had been searching for it for years.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:54am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a rusted car part or piece of evidence recovered from the Columbia River, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.The recovery of long-lost evidence from the Columbia River sheds light on a decades-old mystery surrounding the disappearance of an Oregon family.Cascade Locks Today

DNA analysis has identified the remains found in a car in the Columbia River as those of an Oregon family that went missing in 1958 while on a trip to find Christmas greenery. The state medical examiner's office has confirmed the identities of parents Kenneth and Barbara Martin and their daughter Barbie from the remains located within the wreckage of the car.

Why it matters

The disappearance of the Martin family in 1958 was a national news story at the time, leading to speculation about the possibility of foul play. The discovery of their car and remains in the river after over 60 years provides closure for the family's relatives and the community, while also shedding light on a long-standing mystery.

The details

The Ford station wagon thought to belong to the family was found in 2024 by a diver who had been looking for it for several years. Authorities pulled part of the car from the river the following year. Only the frame and some attached components were retrieved from the water because of the 'extent to which the vehicle had been encased in sediment.' Later in 2025, the diver located human remains that were ultimately turned over to the state medical examiner's office. Scientists developed DNA extracts from the remains and generated a profile that was compared with relatives of the Martin family, allowing for the identifications.

  • The Martin family went missing in December of 1958.
  • The bodies of two of the family's children were found months after the disappearance, but the other members never turned up.
  • The car was discovered in the Columbia River in 2024 by a diver.
  • Authorities pulled part of the car from the river in 2025.
  • Human remains were located by the diver and turned over to the medical examiner's office later in 2025.

The players

Kenneth Martin

The father of the missing Oregon family.

Barbara Martin

The mother of the missing Oregon family.

Barbie Martin

The daughter of the missing Oregon family.

Hood River County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that concluded the investigation and found no evidence of a crime.

State Medical Examiner's Office

The office that identified the remains found in the car as belonging to the Martin family.

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What they’re saying

“'Where do you search if you've already searched every place logic and fragmentary clues would suggest?'”

— Associated Press, News Article

The takeaway

The discovery of the Martin family's remains after over 60 years provides closure for their relatives and the community, while also shedding light on a long-standing mystery. The case highlights the challenges of investigating missing persons cases, especially those from decades ago, and the importance of persistent efforts to uncover the truth.