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DNA analysis identifies members of Oregon family missing since 1958

Authorities identified Kenneth and Barbara Martin and their daughter Barbie from remains in car in Columbia River

DNA analysis identifies members of Oregon family missing since 1958

TL;DR

  • DNA analysis identified the remains of Kenneth, Barbara, and Barbie Martin, an Oregon family missing since 1958.
  • The remains were found in a car wreckage in the Columbia River.
  • A diver discovered the car in 2024; authorities retrieved parts of it and human remains later.
  • The family disappeared in December 1958 while on a trip to find Christmas greenery.
  • Two of the family's children were found months after the initial disappearance.
  • The Hood River county sheriff's office found no evidence of a crime.
  • The car was heavily encased in sediment, making retrieval difficult.