How did they find the Martin Family station wagon? Diver explains

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – More than 65 years after the Martin family vanished from their Northeast Portland home, officials believe they are one step closer to solving the cold case thanks to a “significant tip.”

On Thursday, the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office announced they had received information from a local diver who claimed to have found the station wagon belonging to the Martin family, who vanished in 1958.

KOIN 6 News spoke with the diver, Archer Mayo, as investigators entered their second day at Cascade Locks — where they are hoping to pull the car from the water in one piece.

Mayo has spent the past seven years diving into the Columbia River in search of clues that could solve the Martin Family cold case. Then he discovered what could be the final piece of evidence while exploring the deepest part of the canal.

“What we’re calling this is ‘The Pit,’” Mayo said. “This is a forgotten feature of the Cascade Locks.”

While diving, he spotted what he thought could be a depression in the canal floor. He used a 15-foot pole to test the depth of the area and later returned to start digging.

“When I dig, I did not empty out the whole pit,” Mayo said. “I dug a big basin out here and got down, saw the axel, put a buoy on the axel for the divers, see the gas tank, see the bumper, and actually — interestingly — the tailgate is open. … And that showed me the color of the car.”

A video from Martin’s dive shows the wreckage and parts of the car he described. The footage can be viewed in the video player below.

“I found some wheels sticking up. It’s upside down, and I thought, ‘Oh, that’s a car. That’s exciting,’” Mayo told KOIN 6. “I didn’t think it was the Martin car because of its tire tread. Didn’t look like 1950s tire tread, and the hubcap on it was super shiny. I thought, ‘Well, that’s not that old.’ So I thought, ‘Well, at least it’s a car.’ And then as I went further on it, I realized, ‘Oh my gosh, this is the car. This is a ‘54 wagon.’”

Mayo was also able to get video of the car’s partial license plate. After a match, officials said they are 99% sure this is the Martin’s’ car.

With the confirmation of the car’s model, color and license plate, Mayo said “that’s like three cherries on the slot machine for me.”

On Thursday, the Hood River Sheriff’s Office said they were unable to remove the vehicle due to the amount of debris on top of it. The crew is set to resume their efforts Friday.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue to follow this story.