OR OR - Martin Family: Ken 54, Barbara 48, Barbie 15, Columbia River Gorge, 7 December 1958

[iamshadow21]

It's also possible that the younger children were adopted, something that was also not always discussed with honesty in those days.

When was the war in relation to birth years? My paternal side, my Nanna had three kids one after the other and then it was ten years until her last. Did the father have war service that took him away from his wife for a few years?

MOO

 

[Seattle1]

4/17/26

Mystery of Oregon family who vanished in 1958 is finally solved

Kenneth and Barbara Martin and three of their children went missing in December 1958. Almost 70 years later, the investigation into their mysterious disappearance concluded.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Austin023]

When was the war in relation to birth years? My paternal side, my Nanna had three kids one after the other and then it was ten years until her last. Did the father have war service that took him away from his wife for a few years?

MOO

Aside from the eldest, Donald, born in October, 1930, the three younger daughters were born as follows:
Barbara (Barbie), 1944
Virginia, September 19, 1946
Susan, Jan 9, 1948

I've never found any evidence of adoptions or missing/deceased siblings, despite the unusual 13-14 year gap between Donald and Barbara.
The Martins moved into their house in 1932-33, but given the state of the country at the time, the Depression, I'd find it hardly surprising if Kenneth and Barbara Martin deliberately stalled having any more children for several years....with Barbara born in 1944, that made father Ken 40 and mother Barbara 34, which would be approaching the end of childbearing years in that era...so they probably decided by then, in 1944, that their situation had improved enough to make the best and have three more children in quick succession, by no means unusual then. Birth rates plummeted during the early to mid 1930s, and only began to rebound during WW2, then the Baby Boom starting c.1946.

 

[The4TierBridge]

Though it says DNA identified the three in the car. So that would imply this child was not adopted.

Only Kenneth Martin was identified forensically through DNA testing. All sets of remains were analyzed by an anthropologist to assess characteristics, and then after Kenneth Martin’s identity was confirmed through DNA, the medical examiner decided all together there was enough to circumstantially identify the other two sets of remains, whose profiles were too degraded for current analysis methods.

 

[iamshadow21]

Aside from the eldest, Donald, born in October, 1930, the three younger daughters were born as follows:
Barbara (Barbie), 1944
Virginia, September 19, 1946
Susan, Jan 9, 1948

I've never found any evidence of adoptions or missing/deceased siblings, despite the unusual 13-14 year gap between Donald and Barbara.
The Martins moved into their house in 1932-33, but given the state of the country at the time, the Depression, I'd find it hardly surprising if Kenneth and Barbara Martin deliberately stalled having any more children for several years....with Barbara born in 1944, that made father Ken 40 and mother Barbara 34, which would be approaching the end of childbearing years in that era...so they probably decided by then, in 1944, that their situation had improved enough to make the best and have three more children in quick succession, by no means unusual then. Birth rates plummeted during the early to mid 1930s, and only began to rebound during WW2, then the Baby Boom starting c.1946.

I think don't know what the family's stance on birth control was, but diaphragms were available at that time in the US.

Cervical Caps and Diaphragms - Dittrick Medical History Center

Cervical Caps made in the U.S.A. Cervical caps were manufactured and sold in the United States from the 1920’s through the 1940’s. Durex Products sold a rubber dome, and the Surgical Instrument Research Laboratory had a line called Cervicaps which contained caps of silver (6 sizes), chrome (12...

artsci.case.edu

MOO

 

[Seattle1]

4/17/26

Mystery of Oregon family who vanished in 1958 is finally solved

Kenneth and Barbara Martin and three of their children went missing in December 1958. Almost 70 years later, the investigation into their mysterious disappearance concluded.

www.dailymail.co.uk

From the quoted link:

But now, parents Kenneth and Barbara, and daughter, Barbie Martin, have been identified from human remains found in the Columbia River, officials said.

[..]

Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office used DNA extracts from the remains and a profile of the Martin family's relatives to confirm their identity.

'This identification reflects a sustained coordinated effort, scientific partnership, and continued advancements in forensic genetic genealogy,' read the Oregon State Medical Examiner's statement.

The medical examiner's office had the help of the forensic genetics lab Ortham Inc, which specializes in processing evidence from cold cases.

The company's Chief Development Officer, Kristen Mittelman, told KATU this was a years-long process.

'So many people worked for years to find and identify the Martin family and we are proud to have helped,' she said.

'A mystery like this doesn't just weigh on the family, it weighs on the entire community and hopefully this gives a lot of people the resolution they deserve.'

It is a bittersweet ending to a cold case that had gripped the nation for the better part of 60 years.

The Martins were reported missing on December 9, 1958, after the parents failed to show up for work.

The remaining three family members' bodies were identified after human remains were extracted from the alleged crash site

In 2024, an independent diver located the potential car the family was driving when they disappeared in the Columbia River

 

[iulia]

All three have been removed from NamUs.

 

[Austin023]

Well, at least they've been identified, and the family is able to lay them to rest. I'm gathering no evidence of foul play was found, so I'd have to say a terrible accident was most likely. Then again, there is only so much that can be gleaned from situations like this.

I'm still just amazed that only was the Martin's car found, more or less intact in thst "pit", but the burial in sediment helped preserve things so well.
When I learned atleast one seatbeltwas found fastened by divers, I began to think an accident was perhaps more likely, as that implies at least one person put it on in preparation to leave. Which seat or position thst belt belonged to wasn't ascertained, but it at lesst showed preparation for a drive, not bodies stacked in the car unless someone was unusually careful.
It's safe to say this case is closed, they've been found, which is a minor miracle in itself given the amount of time and general circumstances.

 

[chart75]

Now we wait as autopsies are done. Still have doubts it was a mere accident. Something about this case makes me feel this way. Makes me wonder if the rumors were true. All I can say is this: those who thought the son was responsible, satisfied it was proven he wasn’t involved?

I don't feel as if the police "proved" the son wasn't involved, they just never pursued the case for various reasons. Graven was told to stand down by his superiors rather than continue investigating.

With the Martin parents and eldest daughter having spent 67 years in a river, I'm not sure you can definitively say that there was "no foul play involved." What was left of the bodies? Were their skulls intact or long gone from their time in the water? After the dredge hooked the car and freed the two youngest girls, the interior was exposed to constant water, fish and everything else that's at the bottom of a river. Once again, not sure how you can determine no foul play after that much time in the river.

It is known that the bloodied gun (the one Donald was fired from stealing from Meier & Frank) was found in close proximity to where the car went in the river, had jammed after one shot, and it's a real shame that no forensic testing was done at the time or at least saved for a later date. Imagine if LE had just bagged it as evidence for a later date when DNA could have been tested. The least they could have done was check for prints. Cleaning the blood off the gun and returning to the person who found it is insane.

As for Donald, why didn't he come back and aid in the search, or at least come for his younger sisters funeral(s)? And what about the creepy pseudo ransom note/Christmas card he sent Graven?

 

[GracefulD1an]

I’m not convinced it was the son at all. Rather I think it was a family annihilation by the father. All the small details add up when you consider the whispers and the morals of the 50s. As to the son he was likely a red herring, a child struggling in a homophobic society.

 

[Gemmie]

Martin family’s deaths officially an accident, but evidence keeps Oregon murder mystery alive

The Hood River Sheriff’s Office announced earlier this month that it had seen enough and so had “concluded its investigation, having found no evidence of a crime.” The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office followed suit.
...
J.B. Fisher, a Portland Community College writing instructor, believes the possibility that the Martin family was murdered hasn’t been debunked – and that, in fact, the actual evidence shows it remains much more likely than a car accident, which is the official conclusion.

Martin family’s deaths officially an accident, but evidence keeps Oregon murder mystery alive

Despite police ruling the 1958 Martin family deaths an accident, evidence and unanswered questions fuel ongoing murder suspicions.

www.oregonlive.com

 

[chart75]

Martin family’s deaths officially an accident, but evidence keeps Oregon murder mystery alive

The Hood River Sheriff’s Office announced earlier this month that it had seen enough and so had “concluded its investigation, having found no evidence of a crime.” The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office followed suit.
...
J.B. Fisher, a Portland Community College writing instructor, believes the possibility that the Martin family was murdered hasn’t been debunked – and that, in fact, the actual evidence shows it remains much more likely than a car accident, which is the official conclusion.

Martin family’s deaths officially an accident, but evidence keeps Oregon murder mystery alive

Despite police ruling the 1958 Martin family deaths an accident, evidence and unanswered questions fuel ongoing murder suspicions.

www.oregonlive.com

Nice summary of the evidence. Too many questions (at least in my mind) to call it an accident.

 

[MamaSleuth5]

Martin family’s deaths officially an accident, but evidence keeps Oregon murder mystery alive

The Hood River Sheriff’s Office announced earlier this month that it had seen enough and so had “concluded its investigation, having found no evidence of a crime.” The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office followed suit.
...
J.B. Fisher, a Portland Community College writing instructor, believes the possibility that the Martin family was murdered hasn’t been debunked – and that, in fact, the actual evidence shows it remains much more likely than a car accident, which is the official conclusion.

Martin family’s deaths officially an accident, but evidence keeps Oregon murder mystery alive

Despite police ruling the 1958 Martin family deaths an accident, evidence and unanswered questions fuel ongoing murder suspicions.

www.oregonlive.com

Excellent article IMO, thank you for sharing, @Gemmie! Some of the information was new to me and is thought-provoking! MOO

 

[Bounceycat]

If they merely accidentally drove into the river, I find it hard to believe not one of the 5 people inside the car escaped before drowning, even after a 20ft drop.

 

[meanmaryjean]

If they merely accidentally drove into the river, I find it hard to believe not one of the 5 people inside the car escaped before drowning, even after a 20ft drop.

Remember it was winter (heavy clothing) and cars were not equipped with seatbelts back then. The riverbank shown in the recovery pictures was NOT the riverbank they drove off of 60+ years ago. They drove off a virtual cliff into icy cold water in a very remote area. The 11-year old and 13-year old were found downstream- so they did escape the car. But I honestly don't believe they (any of them) had a chance of survival.

 

[Bounceycat]

Remember it was winter (heavy clothing) and cars were not equipped with seatbelts back then. The riverbank shown in the recovery pictures was NOT the riverbank they drove off of 60+ years ago. They drove off a virtual cliff into icy cold water in a very remote area. The 11-year old and 13-year old were found downstream- so they did escape the car. But I honestly don't believe they (any of them) had a chance of survival.

The article Gemmie posted a few posts up says that the father had after market seat belts installed and was a stickler about people wearing them. And that the 11yo and 13yo weren't ejected from the car by currents until May when the current carried the car into the ditch where it was eventually found decades later. The third daughter was found in the front seat with the parents.

 

[FoxxTraxx]

Remember it was winter (heavy clothing) and cars were not equipped with seatbelts back then. The riverbank shown in the recovery pictures was NOT the riverbank they drove off of 60+ years ago. They drove off a virtual cliff into icy cold water in a very remote area. The 11-year old and 13-year old were found downstream- so they did escape the car. But I honestly don't believe they (any of them) had a chance of survival.

This picture from the book Echo of Distant Water shows the cliffs (called The Dalles) where it is believed the Martin's car went over the edge on 12/7/58. On 5/1/59 a barge on the river struck a large metal object in the river bed in this area. In the following days bodies of the two youngest girls surfaced down stream.

 

[iamshadow21]

If they merely accidentally drove into the river, I find it hard to believe not one of the 5 people inside the car escaped before drowning, even after a 20ft drop.

It happens. The Gwynedd crash the other year is a good parallel, they all died from drowning, not injuries.

Gwynedd crash inquest: Shrewsbury teens drowned in river

Four teens drowned after their car flipped into a ditch while on a camping trip, an inquest hears.

www.bbc.com

 

[chart75]

The issue with accidental drowning is there is too much evidence that says otherwise. The black taxi that showed up and sat outside the Martin house the next morning (Monday, December 8th, 1958) while a stranger was inside (this is PRIOR to anyone even knowing the Martin's were missing) is a huge red flag. As is the bloodied gun that was found in close proximity to where the Martin car entered the river. Donald had ties to that gun, having been fired from Meier and Frank for stealing it from the store (along with other merchandise). Multiple witnesses gave evidence that two convicts followed the Martin's as they left the cafe late Sunday afternoon, then additional witnesses indicated they saw the Martin's talking to those same criminals along the road. Donald's friend was acquainted with one of those convicts. Those two cons were arrested for car theft but LE never pursued either one for the Martin disappearance.