On Thursday, authorities are set to pull several vehicles from the Columbia River, including a car that is believed to have belonged to a Portland couple who mysteriously vanished in 1958. Ken and Barbara Martin were last seen while out for a drive with their three daughters, two of whom tragically drowned in the river the following year. This significant recovery operation marks a pivotal moment in a case that has captivated the public's interest for over six decades.
The vehicle in question, a station wagon thought to belong to the Martins, was discovered last fall by diver Archer Mayo. After dedicating seven years to the search, Mayo located the car approximately 50 feet underwater, covered in mud, salmon guts, silt, and mussel shells. According to Mayo's representative, Ian Costello, the diver utilized advanced modeling techniques to pinpoint the likely location of the vehicle before making the crucial find. Officials have since matched a partial license plate, leading them to believe with 99% certainty that this is indeed the Martins' car, as reported by CBS affiliate KOIN-TV.
This recovery is a major development in a case that has lingered in the minds of Portland residents for 66 years. Costello expressed the importance of this moment, stating, "This is a very big development in a case that's been on the back of Portland's mind for 66 years." Despite the vehicle sitting upside down and buried under debris, officials indicated that it remains largely intact, which could provide crucial evidence regarding the events surrounding the family's disappearance.
The Martins embarked on a family outing in December 1958, intending to gather Christmas greenery. However, they never returned from their drive. In a grim turn of events, the bodies of two daughters were discovered near the Bonneville Dam the following year, while the rest of the family was never found. Although the incident was ruled an accident, the emergence of a damaged gun raised further questions about the circumstances of their disappearance.
According to Pete Hughes, a deputy with the Hood River County sheriff's office, the case has generated considerable public interest. After Mayo provided part of the license plate number and other vehicle identifiers, the sheriff's office collaborated with the Columbia Gorge major crimes team and the Oregon State Crime Lab to arrange the vehicle's recovery. Hughes noted, "We're not 100% sure it's the car. It's mostly encased in mud and debris, so we don't know what to expect when we pull it out of the water today."
Mayo, who operates a business focused on finding items lost in the river, including watches and rings, also assists in the recovery of drowning victims. His initial search was for a research vessel that sank in 2017 when he first learned about the Martin family's tragic story. As he researched the family, he discovered additional vehicles in the vicinity that may also need to be recovered. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of uncovering the remains of other missing individuals as they proceed with the recovery operation.
The recovery of these vehicles from the Columbia River not only aims to solve the mystery surrounding the Martin family's disappearance but also serves as a reminder of the ongoing quest for answers in cold cases across the nation.
