The Vanishing Martin Family: A 1958 Oregon Mystery
In May of 1959, two juvenile female bodies were found in Oregon's Columbia River. Susan Margaret Martin, age 10, and her older sister Virginia Anne Martin, age 12, were discovered in adjacent parts of the river near Camas Slough and the Bonneville Dam, respectively. The mystery surrounding their disappearance and deaths has somehow eluded citizens and law enforcement for half a century. But the two girls pulled from the river were just one piece of a much larger mystery—one that also entangled their parents and another missing sister.
"The shock yesterday was the worst thing yet - worse than first hearing of their disappearance. I found it so hard to believe that one of them was actually dead, despite all this time," their 28-year-old brother Donald Martin said in a newspaper article for the Oregonian. Donald Martin was the only surviving member of this Oregon family. He is noted as an artist living in New York City at the time of the family’s disappearance. He was also a Navy medical corpsman with diving experience.
A December 10, 1958 Oregonian newspaper clipping shows the Martin family who vanished during a Christmas tree hunting trip.
Left photo: Kenneth Martin and his wife, Barbara, known as Bibi, smiling. Right photo: Their three daughters in matching striped outfits - Barbara (14), Virginia (12), and Susan (10). The headline "Tree Quest Swallows Portland Family of Five" dramatically captures the mysterious disappearance that began when they failed to return from the Larch Mountain area on December 7, 1958. The lower captions note that search efforts continued into Tuesday after the family missed their Monday appointments.
Hunting Greens
The newspaper continued coverage of the baffling case that captivated Portland residents after the family of five and their red and white Ford station wagon vanished on December 7, 1958, while searching for a Christmas tree in the Larch Mountain area.
On Monday, December 8, 1958, Virginia Anne, Susan Margaret, and their sister Barbara Jean Martin, age 14, were all mysteriously absent from school. Their father, Kenneth Martin, did not show up at his Eccles Electric Company office at 237 NE Broadway in Portland for work. His co-workers described him as "highly responsible" and a person "who would not miss an appointment."
It was reported by neighbors who paid a visit to the Martin family earlier the day before that the Martins had plans to go looking for a Christmas tree later that same day. On Sunday, December 7, 1958, Kenneth Martin of Portland, Oregon, along with his wife and three daughters, reportedly left home to hunt for a Christmas tree and greens. Several witnesses claimed to see the family on their journey, but when they failed to return home, a search began for the family and their 1954 red and white Ford station wagon, license plate 1G-7156.
Who were the Martins?
The Life of the Party
“They were extroverts to the nth degree” said Mrs. Herschel Dorsey of 2955 NE 59th Ave, Ken Martin’s sister. During one snowy winter, Ken made bird feeders, filled them with seed and passed them around to neighbors to place in their yards for hungry birds. “They were a real fun family” a close friend said. “Ken would march around the room carrying their [Thanksgiving] turkey on a platter, letting everyone smell it. His wife followed him with a knife and fork and the kids would be marching behind them”. The Martins were jolly and fat, The Oregonian reported on January 2, 1959. They were a close-knit and very devoted family who epitomized togetherness. “They just lived every day to the fullest”.
What Happened to the Martin Family?
“…but all that chaff they have gleaned only two kernels of fact”
The inexplicable vanishing of the Martin family confounded associates, relatives, and law enforcement agencies alike, prompting numerous individuals to proffer potential insights regarding the events of that fateful day. Among these accounts was the testimony of Clara York, an employee at Hood River's Paradise Snack Bar, who expressed conviction that she had served the Martin family near twilight on December 7th. York provided detailed recollections of their culinary selections and characterized them as "wonderful people." While investigators acknowledged York's apparent sincerity, they simultaneously noted the probability that her recollections had been inadvertently influenced by media accounts, casting doubt on the reliability of her testimony.
Investigators documented several pertinent details regarding the family's activities preceding their disappearance. Records indicated that Mrs. Martin had attended funeral services on Saturday, December 6th, for Otis Johnston and his son Wayne, victims of a drowning incident in the Columbia River following the capsizing of their vessel the previous week. Forensic examination of the Martin residence revealed that the third-row seat of their nine-passenger station wagon had been removed, presumably to accommodate the Christmas foliage they intended to collect. A significant evidentiary element emerged in the form of a credit transaction record documenting Kenneth Martin's purchase of five gallons of petroleum at the Cascade Locks Chevron station on the day of their disappearance. The proprietor of the establishment recalled that the Martin vehicle was proceeding in an easterly direction at that time.
The Martin residence presented a tableau of interrupted domesticity: garments remained suspended in their closets, Sunday periodical comics were distributed where the children had abandoned them, breakfast tableware rested in the sink's drainage area, and laundry remained in the washing machine as Mrs. Martin had placed it. Perhaps most poignantly, a Santa Claus costume was draped over a chair—Kenneth Martin had worn it to a pre-holiday masquerade event the previous evening, an action described by acquaintances as characteristic of his personality.
In March, two boys who went fishing related that they found a sleeping bag in the Columbia River. The boys reported that the bag was encased in a plastic cover that bore the name “Ken Martin” on it. Although (cough) the cover was “thrown away”, they said their parents urged them to report their find. As for the bag itself it hadn’t been in the river very long. One deputy reported “it wasn’t too wet”.
This historical case presents numerous unresolved questions for contemporary researchers. While the remains of the two younger daughters were eventually recovered from the Columbia River, the fate of fourteen-year-old Barbara Jean remains unknown, as does the ultimate disposition of Kenneth and his spouse. Most significantly, the precise sequence of events on that December day—when a family's seemingly innocuous expedition to procure a Christmas tree transformed into one of Oregon's most perplexing disappearances—continues to elude definitive explanation. The fundamental question persists: did the Martin family perish as a result of accidental circumstances, or were they victims of unidentified malefactors?
Mystery in the Cascade Mountains
Just another American Family out for a drive
By mid-April 1959, contemporary newspaper accounts indicated that investigators had reached an investigative impasse in the Martin family disappearance. According to one publication, "All clues have been exhausted" despite extensive deployment of aerial reconnaissance, marine vessels, vehicular patrols, and ground search parties—all yielding no substantive evidence.
The cessation of active search operations coincided with emerging theories about Kenneth Martin's documented aversion to nighttime driving. Investigators consequently developed several hypotheses: the family may have ventured into an inaccessible canyon, their vehicle might have been submerged in the "deep and swift" currents of the Columbia River adjacent to the highway, or they may have fallen victim to criminal activity.
The topographical challenges of the search area cannot be overstated. Situated within the central Cascade mountain range, the Cascade Locks region features a labyrinthine network of narrow logging roads traversing dense forestland and precipitous canyons. These environmental factors created numerous locations where a vehicle could leave the roadway and remain concealed within the terrain's natural features. Law enforcement personnel from both Oregon and Washington conducted comprehensive examinations of all accessible roadways for evidence of vehicular departure but documented no findings. In one particularly thorough effort, an investigator traversed 83 miles of Columbia River shoreline searching for evidence of a water entry, yet recovered no relevant artifacts.
The investigation briefly focused on Calvin Paul Warren, age 32, whose abandoned vehicle was discovered in proximity to Cascade Locks. Following his apprehension in Riverside, California, Warren became a person of interest, partly due to his documented flight from a taxi operator near Parkdale in November and his history of financial fraud in Oregon. Warren provided an alibi claiming he was donating blood in Los Angeles on December 8th. The Oregon Daily Journal subsequently reported that while Warren had utilized an alias in the donor registry, handwriting analysis positively identified the signature as his (insert surprise-face emoji here).
The discovery of the girls' bodies months after their disappearance only deepened the mystery. Found miles apart in the same river system, the circumstances suggested their deaths weren't a simple accident. Yet without the remains of the other family members or the discovery of their vehicle, investigators faced a puzzle with critical missing pieces.
For genealogists and family historians, cases like the Martin family disappearance remind us how fragile the threads of family history can be. One day in December 1958, an ordinary Portland family vanished, leaving behind questions that continue to echo through time.
Breaking News: Possible Breakthrough After 67 Years
After nearly seven decades of questions, the Martin family mystery might finally be solved. According to a March 8, 2025 report from the New York Post, divers have recently recovered the wreckage of what appears to be a station wagon from a river in Oregon.
Investigators stand at the edge of a rocky cliff overlooking the Columbia River in 1999, comparing the current landscape with an old photograph of the same location. The image captures the persistent search for answers in the Martin family case, as researchers continued to examine possible routes the family might have taken on their fateful December 1958 journey. This cliff edge represents one of several locations along the Columbia River gorge area where the Martin's vehicle might have gone off the road, potentially explaining why their 1954 Ford station wagon remained undiscovered for decades despite extensive searches.
The Martin family disappearance has remained one of Oregon's most enigmatic cold cases since December 7, 1958, when Kenneth and Barbara Martin and their three daughters vanished during a simple family outing.
After decades of speculation ranging from accidental drowning to homicide, a breakthrough finally came when independent diver Archer Mayo discovered their 1954 Ford station wagon beneath the Columbia River in November 2024. This discovery came after Mayo spent months secretly excavating in "The Pit" at the bottom of Cascade Locks, where he first spotted a single exposed tire partially buried under the rocky riverbed.
Before this discovery, Adventures With Purpose (AWP) had conducted extensive searches since 2020, using advanced sonar and magnetometer technology at various locations along the Columbia River. Their efforts, along with research from author JB Fisher's book "Echo of Distant Water," helped keep interest in the case alive.
The discovery aligns with historical reports from April 1959, when aluminum plant workers claimed their anchor snagged on what appeared to be a submerged vehicle. Shortly afterward, the bodies of two Martin daughters were found downstream.
On March 6, 2025, Hood River County Sheriff's Department officially recovered the vehicle. The case remains an active investigation, with forensic examination of the car potentially providing answers to what happened to the Martin family. Those interested can follow updates on Archer Mayo's dedicated website: martinmystery.com.
The case of the missing Martin Family has been one of Oregon’s most baffling cold cases. On December 7, 1958, Kenneth and Barbara Martin, along with their three daughters, vanished without a trace while on a family outing. For decades, speculation ran wild, with theories ranging from accidental drowning to foul play. After years of relentless searching, their car was finally discovered beneath the Columbia River, thanks to the dedication of independent diver Archer Mayo. This video documents the final search by Adventures With Purpose (AWP) before this major breakthrough, playing a crucial role in advancing the case and keeping the story alive. A Long and Exhaustive Search AWP has been deeply involved in searching for the Martin Family since 2020. Prior to the final discovery, they conducted multiple dives into the Columbia River, meticulously scanning the riverbed for any sign of the Martins’ 1954 Ford station wagon. Their investigations took them to Cascade Locks and other locations where past evidence hinted at the possibility of the vehicle’s whereabouts. During this most recent search, divers and sonar experts meticulously analyzed the river’s depths using advanced equipment, including magnetometers and sonar imaging. A major focus of this particular dive was revisiting locations previously suspected to hold evidence, rechecking areas where metallic objects had been detected, and employing advanced techniques to distinguish debris from potential vehicle parts. Theories and Historical Context Much of the search efforts were informed by extensive research into the case, including insights from author JB Fisher, whose book (Echo of Distant Water: The 1958 Disappearance of Portland's Martin Family" on Amazon here... https://amzn.to/3b9Q94R) explores multiple theories regarding the disappearance. One prevailing theory suggested that the Martins had accidentally driven into the river. Another theory, first posited by Detective Walter Graven, pointed toward foul play. Graven’s suspicions stemmed from evidence such as tire tracks leading off a cliff, paint scrapings, and even a stolen gun linked to the family’s son. These clues fueled speculation that the family may have been deliberately forced off the road. Adding to the mystery, past witness reports indicated that a submerged vehicle had been detected decades ago but never recovered. Several workers near an aluminum plant in April 1959 claimed to have snagged their anchor on what appeared to be a large car. Shortly thereafter, two of the Martin daughters' bodies were found downstream, aligning with the possibility that the car had been disturbed at that time. Key Figures in the Search This endeavor would not have been possible without the relentless efforts of dedicated individuals. AWP’s team, including Jared Leisek, Kade Pigg, Byron Leisek, Mathew Moss, and Scott Hulbert @searchanddiscovery , played significant roles in the search. Their expertise in underwater recovery operations proved instrumental in covering vast and dangerous underwater terrains. Independent diver Archer Mayo, who had been investigating the case since 2018, ultimately located the vehicle. Mayo’s extensive efforts and deep personal commitment to solving this mystery culminated in the car’s final identification. It wasn't sonar that found the car. It was Archer's determination to leave no stone unturned and endless nights pondering int he hot tub that drove him to dive deep into "The Pit" at the bottom of the Cascade Locks, ultimately finding a single exposed tire with the rest of the vehicle buried under the rocky river bottom back in November 2024. Archer spent several months, secretly dredging and verifying that his was indeed the Martin Family's car to which, on March 6th, 2025, The Hood River County Sheriff's Department moved everyone into position to recover the Martin car. What’s Next? The recovery of the Martin Family’s car marks a significant milestone in resolving this decades-old mystery, but there are still many unanswered questions. The Hood River County Sheriff’s Department is treating the discovery as part of an ongoing criminal investigation, and forensic examination of the vehicle’s remains could provide more insight into what truly happened to the Martins. For those wanting to follow the latest updates and further details on this case, Archer Mayo has launched a dedicated website: martinmystery.com Archer's website will serve as a resource hub for those interested in the case’s history, new findings, and potential breakthroughs.
