DNA Solves 1958 Disappearance of Oregon Family in Columbia River

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

After nearly 70 years, DNA analysis has identified the remains of three members of the Martin family found inside a car submerged in the Columbia River as those of Kenneth and Barbara Jean Martin and their 14-year-old daughter Barbara, who disappeared in 1958 while on a trip to collect Christmas greenery. The Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the identification following forensic testing conducted in coordination with the Hood River County Sheriff's Office.

Why it matters

The discovery resolves one of Oregon's longest-standing missing-person mysteries, which had drawn national attention at the time and prompted speculation about possible criminal involvement. The identification brings closure to surviving relatives who have long sought answers about the family's fate.

The details

The remains were discovered in 2025 inside a Ford station wagon that had been submerged in the river for decades. Investigators said the vehicle was located by a diver who had been searching for it for several years, and only the frame and some components were recovered due to the extent of sediment encasement. Kenneth and Barbara Jean Martin, along with their three children — 13-year-old Virginia, 11-year-old Susan and 14-year-old Barbara — vanished on December 7, 1958, after informing a neighbor they planned a day trip to the Columbia River Gorge. Months later, the bodies of Virginia and Susan were found downstream in 1959, but the whereabouts of the parents and their eldest daughter remained unknown until now.

• The Martin family disappeared on December 7, 1958.
• The bodies of Virginia and Susan Martin were found downstream in 1959.
• The remains were discovered in 2025 inside a submerged car.

What they’re saying