Decades-Old Mystery: Sunken Vehicle Potentially Linked to Missing Martin Family

A potential break has emerged in a cold case that has haunted Oregon for over six decades. A vehicle discovered submerged in the Columbia River near Cascade Locks is believed to be connected to the disappearance of the Martin family, who vanished without a trace in 1958. The discovery, made by an independent diver, has reignited hope for answers in one of the region’s most enduring missing persons cases.

The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office announced the discovery on social media, sparking immediate interest and renewed attention to the long-unsolved mystery. The recovery operation, being conducted by Advanced American Construction, is expected to be challenging due to the vehicle’s location in 40 to 50 feet of water and its partial burial in debris. Pete Hughes, a spokesperson for the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, indicated that the recovery could extend into Friday afternoon.

The vehicle is strongly suspected to be linked to the case of Kenneth Martin, his wife Barbara, and their three children, who disappeared on December 7, 1958. The family, residents of Multnomah County, embarked on a trip in their 1954 Ford Station Wagon, reportedly to collect greenery for Christmas wreaths in the Columbia River Gorge. They never returned.

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a neighbor reported the family missing on the same day they vanished. Over the years, the case has remained open, with investigators pursuing various leads and theories, none of which yielded definitive answers.

The disappearance of the Martin family has become a local legend, a chilling reminder of the uncertainties of life and the enduring power of unresolved mysteries. In 2018, on the 60th anniversary of the disappearance, television station KOIN revisited the case, highlighting the persistent efforts to uncover the truth.

Greg Graven, whose grandfather was a detective involved in the initial investigation, shared his grandfather’s notes and insights. According to Graven, his grandfather believed the disappearance was a homicide and that the discovery of the vehicle would be the key to solving the case. Graven’s grandfather passed away in 1988, but his dedication to the Martin family mystery lived on through his notes.

Early theories proposed that the family might have accidentally driven into Cascade Locks while backing into a parking lot. This speculation was partly based on tire tracks found near the area and a credit card receipt indicating a recent gas purchase. However, Graven and others found inconsistencies with this theory.

Graven questioned why the family would embark on a greenery-gathering trip at 1 p.m., and noted that Kenneth Martin reportedly disliked driving at night. Moreover, witnesses reported seeing the Martins having lunch in Hood River. A waitress confirmed that she saw the family leave the restaurant, further complicating the accidental drowning theory.

As the investigation intensified, a $1,000 reward was offered for information leading to the family’s discovery. One intriguing theory suggested that the Martins were victims of a hijacking by two convicts who had been seen at the same lunch spot. These convicts subsequently disappeared and were never questioned in connection with the Martin family case.

While investigating the lunch spot, Graven discovered tire impressions on a bluff leading into the Columbia River. The tread pattern matched the tires of the Martin family’s station wagon. Furthermore, paint chips found on a nearby rock were tested and matched the paint used on similar vehicles, including the 1954 Ford Station Wagon.

Adding another layer of complexity, a man discovered a gun near a stolen vehicle after the Martin family’s disappearance. The gun, covered in dried blood, was turned over to the Hood River Sheriff’s Office. Although the gun was not initially processed as evidence, Graven connected it to the Martin family’s older son, who was in the U.S. Navy at the time of the disappearance. The son had previously been accused of stealing the gun from a department store a few years prior to the family’s vanishing.

JB Fisher, an author who penned “Echo of Distant Water,” a book about the Martin family disappearance, highlighted the difficult relationship between the parents and their son. The son did not return to Oregon during the initial search efforts.

Graven interviewed the son by phone and formed the belief that the son may have orchestrated the deaths of his family. However, his superiors reportedly removed him from the case.

Five months after the disappearance, the decomposed bodies of Virginia and Susan, two of the Martin children, were found in the Columbia River. Autopsies revealed that one of the victims had a hole in her head, but the cause of death remained undetermined.

The Martin family’s son did not attend his sisters’ memorial service but returned to Oregon to manage the family estate. He told Graven that he had no knowledge of who might have harmed his family, but he believed their deaths were intentional.

Now, Washington-based diver Archer Mayo’s discovery has potentially reignited the investigation after years of cold leads. According to his spokesperson, Ian Costello, Mayo has been fascinated with the Martin family case for seven years.

Mayo meticulously studied historical archives and developed a deep understanding of the Columbia River. Using predictive modeling, he narrowed down a specific area of the river where he believed the vehicle might be located. In late 2024, his efforts paid off when he found a car matching the description of the Martin family’s vehicle, only a few feet from the location his model predicted, 50 feet underwater and seven feet under the river floor.

Based on the make, model, color, tires, and partial license plate, Mayo believes the car he found is indeed the Martin family’s. He promptly notified law enforcement of his discovery in mid-February.

The current investigation involves sheriff’s offices from Hood River, Multnomah, Wasco, and Sherman counties, investigators from the Hood River and Dalles police departments, as well as the Oregon State Police.

The recovery of the vehicle promises to be a complex operation. However, the potential for closure for the Martin family and the opportunity to finally unravel a mystery that has endured for over half a century makes this discovery a significant development in Oregon history.