A family’s disappearance on their way to pick a Christmas tree in 1958 has finally been resolved after nearly 70 years. Detectives uncovered the fate of the family members who vanished, with two children sadly found deceased months after the initial search began. The remains of Kenneth and Barbara, the parents, and their daughter Barbie Martin were positively identified in Oregon’s Columbia River.
The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office concluded the extensive investigation spanning several decades, ruling out any evidence of foul play. Despite finding the remains of Virginia and Susan Martin downstream, Kenneth, Barbara, and their eldest daughter Barbara (Barbie) remained missing despite extensive search efforts.
In 2024, an independent researcher named Archer Mayo discovered a Ford station wagon believed to belong to the family submerged in the Columbia River. The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office conducted DNA analysis on the remains and compared them with samples from the Martin family’s relatives for identification.
The Oregon Medical Examiner’s Office credited a collaborative effort, scientific partnership, and advancements in forensic genetic genealogy for the successful identification. Kristen Mittelman, Chief Development Officer, expressed pride in the collective effort to bring closure to the Martin family mystery, acknowledging the impact on both the family and the wider community.
The family was reported missing on December 9, 1958, when they failed to show up for work. Initial investigations suggested a car accident leading to the vehicle ending up in the river.
The children at the time of the incident were Barbara (14), Virginia (13), and Susan (11), while the oldest sibling Donald (28) expressed doubts about the deaths being accidental. An autopsy report from 1959 mentioned a possible gunshot wound to one of the daughters, although the medical examiner attributed the finding to decomposition and no suspects have ever been identified in the case.