On December 7, 1958, the Martin family of Portland, Oregon set out for what should have been an uneventful outing in search of Christmas greenery along the Columbia River. But by the next morning, the family had not returned home. What followed was a baffling investigation filled with conflicting witness accounts, abandoned vehicles, unsettling discoveries, and theories that ranged from tragic accident to something far more sinister.

In this episode, we break down the timeline of the Martin family’s final known movements, the evidence uncovered in the months that followed, and the suspects and theories that continue to divide investigators and armchair sleuths alike. More than six decades later, the disappearance of Kenneth, Barbara, and their three daughters remains one of Oregon’s most haunting cases—and a mystery that still refuses to rest.

Got a spooky story of your own? Send it to hauntedhangoutpodcast13@gmail.com—we might feature it in a future episode!

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on Instagram and TikTok!

This episode was written and edited by Liz Silva. Theme song by High Street Music.

Episode Sources:

In 1958, The Martin Family Suddenly Vanished — And Oregon Police Still Don’t Know What Happened To Them by Genevieve Carlton

TIMELINE: What We Know About the 1958 Martin Family Disappearance by Jenna Deml

December Marks 65 Years Since Portland Family Disappearance by Kelsie Cowart

⁠Human Remains Recovered From Car in Columbia River, Diver Says; Mystery Obsessed Investigators for Decades by Fedor Zarkhin⁠

Human Remains Found in Car of Martin Family Missing for Nearly 70 Years, Diver Says | kpic.com

Updates from Archer | martinmystery.com

“Missing: The Martin Family". Crime Junkie Podcast. Podcast audio, February 13, 2025.