
MISSING: The Martin Family
When a family of five disappears while on a search for Christmas greens, the vast search for them comes up empty. Decades later, the mystery of what happened to them has more questions than answers.
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The Martin Family, left to right: (top) Kenneth, Barbara, (bottom) Barbie, Virginia, and Susan.
Photo found here
The letter than Donald sent to one of the lead investigators of the case in 1959.
Photo found in Echo of Distant Water by J.B. Fisher.
The entire Martin Family. From left to right: Virginia, Donald, Barbara, Barbie, Kenneth, and Susan.
Photo found here
Episode Resources
To read J.B. Fisher’s book on the case, Echo of Distant Water: The 1958 Disappearance of Portland’s Martin Family, please visit this link

Portland, OR
Where the Martin family lives.
Larch Mountain, Or
One of the places the Martins are thought to have looked for Christmas greens.
Hood River, OR
Where the Martins were served burgers and fries at Paradise Snack Bar, heading west, back towards Portland.
Cascade Locks, OR
Where the family stopped to get gas. Virginia’s body is later found in this area.
Mosier, OR
Another potential area in which the Martins might have looked for Christmas greens
Camas, WA
Where Susan’s body is found.
The Dalles, OR
An even further location the Martins are thought to have possibly searched for Christmas greens.
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MISSING: The Gospel Trio
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