CASCADE LOCKS, Ore. (KATU) — Authorities are suspending recovery efforts for a vehicle, found at the bottom of the Columbia River in Cascade Locks, thought to be connected to the 1958 disappearance of the Martin family

On Dec. 7, 1958, Kenneth and Barbara Martin took their three daughters, ages 11, 13, and 14, to look for Christmas wreath greenery in the Columbia River Gorge. They never returned home.

In November 2024, a diver claimed to have discovered the old station wagon in a part of the river known as “the pit.” The vehicle was submerged in 50 feet of water. It was upside down and buried, nose first, under sediment and rock.

READ MORE: Car frame, tires retrieved from Columbia River might be linked to missing Martin family

The diver reported his discovery to authorities so they could make a plan to get it out. On March 7, 2025, recovery crews managed to pull a portion of the vehicle – the chassis and engine – from the river. Those pieces of the car were sent off to be processed.

The Martin family car was a 1954 Ford 4-door station wagon, cream in color with red trim, authorities said.

After processing the recovered parts of the vehicle and comparing the serial numbers to records from the Ford Motor Company, investigators say they believe the parts matched the make, model, and color of the Martin family vehicle. However, because they were not able to recover the vehicle identification number, investigators say they cannot say with certainty that it was the Martin’s vehicle.

“Due to the difficulties associated with retrieving the chassis, and the corroded condition that it was in, HRCSO does not feel that expending further time or resources on the retrieval of the remainder of the vehicle would be prudent, nor would it be guaranteed of success,” a spokesperson with the sheriff’s office wrote in a press release.

READ MORE: Car recovery in Columbia River linked to case of Oregon family missing since 1958