Remains Linked to Submerged Car Solve 1958 Mystery of Missing Oregon Family
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- In 1958, the Martin family from Oregon disappeared after setting out to find Christmas greenery, sparking one of the largest manhunts in the state's history.
- Virginia and Sue Martin's bodies were found in the Columbia River in 1959, but the rest of the family remained missing for over 65 years.
- A diver located the family's submerged car near Cascade Locks, Oregon, but only the undercarriage was initially recovered due to sediment encasing the vehicle.
- In August 2025, the diver found human remains in the river, which were analyzed with DNA testing by Othram, confirming the remains belonged to Kenneth Martin.
- This breakthrough has helped piece together the fate of the Martin family after decades of mystery surrounding their disappearance.
