DNA analysis has confirmed that remains found in a submerged car in the Columbia River belong to an Oregon family that vanished in 1958 while searching for Christmas greenery. The Hood River County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday that the state medical examiner's office identified parents Kenneth and Barbara Martin and their daughter Barbie from remains recovered within the wreckage. The sheriff's office concluded its investigation, stating there was no evidence of a crime.
The Ford station wagon, believed to belong to the family, was discovered in 2024 by diver Archer Mayo, who had been searching for it for years. Authorities partially retrieved the vehicle in 2025, though only the frame and some components were recovered due to sediment encasement. Human remains were later located and turned over to the medical examiner's office.
The Martin family's disappearance in December 1958 became a national news story, sparking speculation about foul play and leading to a $1,000 reward. Two of the family's children were found deceased months after the disappearance, but the other members remained missing until this discovery. The investigation concluded that the family's car likely entered the river, resulting in their deaths.