Remains of Missing Oregon Family Identified After 68 Years

The 1958 disappearance of the Martins was a national mystery for decades.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:20pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up photograph of a rusted car door handle, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.The discovery of the Martin family's submerged station wagon in the Columbia River after nearly 70 years exposes the haunting remnants of a tragic mystery.Hood River Today

DNA analysis has confirmed that remains found in a submerged car in the Columbia River belong to an Oregon family that went missing in 1958 while on a trip to find Christmas greenery. The bodies of parents Kenneth and Barbara Martin and their 14-year-old daughter Barbie were identified, while the remains of their two other daughters were found downstream months later.

Why it matters

The Martin family's disappearance was a major national news story at the time, sparking speculation about foul play and the possibility that they may have met with an accident. The case went unsolved for decades, leaving the family's fate a mystery until now.

The details

In 2024, a diver searching the Columbia River located a submerged Ford station wagon believed to belong to the Martin family. Authorities were able to retrieve part of the car the following year and conduct DNA analysis on the human remains found inside, ultimately confirming the identities of the parents and their oldest daughter. The bodies of the two younger daughters, Susan and Virginia, had been discovered downstream months after the initial disappearance.

  • The Martin family went missing in December 1958 while on a trip.
  • In 2024, a diver located the submerged car in the Columbia River.
  • In 2025, authorities retrieved part of the car and found human remains.
  • In 2026, DNA analysis confirmed the remains belonged to the Martin family.

The players

Kenneth Martin

The father of the missing Oregon family.

Barbara Martin

The mother of the missing Oregon family.

Barbie Martin

The 14-year-old daughter of the missing Oregon family.

Susan Martin

One of the two younger daughters of the missing Oregon family, whose remains were found downstream months after the initial disappearance.

Virginia Martin

One of the two younger daughters of the missing Oregon family, whose remains were found downstream months after the initial disappearance.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The resolution of this decades-old mystery provides closure for the Martin family's surviving relatives and sheds light on a case that captivated the nation at the time. It also highlights the power of modern DNA analysis to uncover the truth, even in the most challenging of circumstances.