DNA Identifies Remains of Oregon Family Missing Since 1958

The car containing the bodies of the Martin family was found in the Columbia River after over 60 years.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:06am by

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

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 physical evidence from the decades-old disappearance of the Martin family exposes the grim details of this cold case.Portland Today

DNA analysis has confirmed that the remains found in a car recovered from the Columbia River belong to the Martin family, who went missing in 1958 while on a trip to find Christmas greenery. The Ford station wagon was located in 2024 by a diver who had been searching for it for years, and the bodies of parents Kenneth and Barbara Martin and their daughter Barbie were identified through DNA testing.

Why it matters

The disappearance of the Martin family was a major national news story at the time, with speculation about possible foul play. The discovery of their remains finally provides closure to this decades-old mystery and allows the family to be properly laid to rest.

The details

In December 1958, the Martin family - Kenneth, Barbara, and their children Sue, Donald, and Virginia - vanished while on a trip to find Christmas greenery. Only the bodies of two of the children were found in the months after their disappearance. The Ford station wagon the family was traveling in was finally located in 2024 by a diver who had been searching for it. Authorities were able to retrieve part of the car from the river, and further investigation led to the identification of the remains as those of the Martin family through DNA analysis.

  • The Martin family went missing in December 1958.
  • The Ford station wagon was found in the Columbia River in 2024 by a diver.
  • Parts of the car were retrieved from the river in 2025.
  • Human remains were located by the diver later in 2025.
  • DNA analysis confirmed the remains belonged to the Martin family in 2026.

The players

Kenneth Martin

The father of the Martin family who went missing in 1958.

Barbara Martin

The mother of the Martin family who went missing in 1958.

Barbie Martin

The daughter of the Martin family who went missing in 1958.

Hood River County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that investigated the Martin family's disappearance and the discovery of their remains.

State Medical Examiner's Office

The office that conducted the DNA analysis to identify the remains found in the car.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The discovery of the Martin family's remains after over 60 years provides long-awaited closure to a decades-old mystery that captivated the nation. While the circumstances of their disappearance may never be fully known, the ability to finally lay them to rest brings a sense of resolution to this tragic case.