DNA analysis has confirmed that human remains found in a car in the Columbia River belong to an Oregon family that disappeared in 1958 while searching for Christmas greenery, authorities said Thursday.
The Hood River County Sheriff's Office identified Kenneth and Barbara Martin and their daughter Barbie from remains recovered from the wreckage. The sheriff's office concluded its investigation and found no evidence of a crime.
The family vanished in December 1958. The bodies of two of their children were found months later, but the parents and another child were never located. The case became a national news story, with speculation of foul play and a $1,000 reward offered.
A diver who had searched for years located the Ford station wagon in 2024. Authorities recovered part of the car the following year, but only the frame and some components were retrieved due to heavy sediment. Analysis confirmed it was the Martins' vehicle.
In 2025, the diver found human remains, which were turned over to the state medical examiner. Scientists developed DNA extracts and compared them with relatives, leading to the identifications.
