Western States Sheriff's Association Awards Sheriff English With Sheriff Of The Year (Photo) -03/31/25

Hood River, Ore. - Earlier this month, Sheriff English was recognized as the Sheriff of the Year for 2024-2025 by the Western States Sheriffs’ Association.  English, who co-chairs the Government Affairs and Public Lands Committee, was recognized with his co-chair, Sheriff Tracy Glover of Kane County, Utah, for their continued work at a national level surrounding Public Lands and federal rulemaking that negatively impacts communities in the west and erodes the Office of Sheriff.  As co-chair, the Sheriff works directly with leadership from the United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Indian Affairs to find palatable solutions to the challenges faced in the Western United States surrounding land management.  For the past year, English has led the efforts to combat a damaging rule proposed by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration of the Department of Labor.  The rule, if implemented, would effectively threaten to end volunteer search and rescue programs in the nation.

The Western States Sheriffs’ Association represents eighteen western states and about 1200 Sheriffs.  It was established in 1993 to ensure sheriffs in the west had a voice in national issues effecting communities and the Office of Sheriff.

Additionally, this month, Sheriff English was appointed to the National Sheriffs’ Association Government Affairs committee.  He becomes the only Oregon Sheriff to sit on a committee with NSA.

Martin Family Disappearance -03/24/25

Cascade Locks, Ore. – On Friday, March 7^th, 2025, the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office successfully retrieved a portion of a vehicle that investigators believe likely belonged to the Martin family. Due to the challenges presented in attempting to recover any more of the vehicle, the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office is suspending any further recovery efforts.

Having disappeared in December of 1958 after a day trip from Portland to the Columbia River Gorge, the Martin family disappearance has gathered a lot of attention over the years. After a private diver presented to the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office (HRCSO) compelling evidence that he had located the Martin family car, HRCSO engaged the services of a professional diving and salvage company. The car that had been located was in a basin within the original lock system in Cascade Locks, Oregon. The vehicle was upside down and buried, nose first, in 66 years of packed sediment and rock, about fifty feet below the surface.

Beginning on March 6^th, 2025, and continuing through March 7^th, the divers worked to remove as much packed sediment and rock as possible. Due to the fact that the interior of the vehicle was believed to also have filled with sediment, only the chassis and engine of the vehicle was recovered from the riverbed. The chassis was taken to a secure facility and processed.

The Martin family vehicle was a 1954 Ford 4-door station wagon, cream in color with red trim. After processing the chassis and attached engine and parts, and comparing the serial numbers to records from the Ford Motor Company, HRCSO investigators believe that what was recovered from the riverbed did belong to a 1954 Ford 4-door station wagon, and small bits of the vehicle body that were still attached to the chassis matched the color of the Martin family vehicle. Given what was found and the location in which it was found, HRCSO investigators have every reason to believe that what was recovered belonged to the Martin family vehicle. Investigators were unable to locate a vehicle identification number (VIN), however, which in 1954 was just starting to be common practice, though not always placed in a consistent location on the vehicle. For those reasons, investigators cannot say with absolute certainty that it is the 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. The location, difficult underwater conditions, and the sediment and rock which encase the remainder of the vehicle present significant challenges. For those reasons, the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office is suspending all further recovery efforts.

Martine Family Vehicle Recovery - Update -03/07/25

CASCADE LOCKS, ORE – On 03/07/2025 The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Columbia Gorge Major Crimes Team, continued the recovery process of a vehicle believed to be from the 1958 Martin Family missing persons case (Multnomah County case 1958-57457). 

On March 6^th  and 7^th, divers and crew from Advanced American Construction worked to dredge out the vehicle located in the old locks of the Columbia River at Cascade Locks.  The vehicle was encased and filled with rock and debris from being in the river for more than 66 years at a depth of about 50 feet.  At about 3:45pm on March 7^th, while attempting to pull the vehicle out, the chassis detached from the rest of the vehicle due to the weight of the debris and condition of the vehicle.  They were able to remove the chassis with the engine.  The vehicle was then transported to a secure facility to be examined by investigators.  The debris and parts of the vehicle left in the water were not able to be examined at this time.  No human remains were found at this time due to the debris.

Investigators will now work on finding identification numbers from the engine and chassis of this vehicle to ensure it is in fact the Martin car.  It is uncertain how long this process will take.  The Sheriff’s Office will send out further communication once the identification has been made.

Martin Family Vehicle Recovery UPDATE -03/06/25

We were unable to remove the vehicle today due to significant debris. The salvage crew and divers will continue working to remove the vehicle tomorrow. No timeline is available on when the vehicle will be recovered. Updates will be sent as information becomes available. 

Martin Family Vehicle Recovery. -03/06/25

CASCADE LOCKS, OR  -  On Thursday, March 6, 2025, the Hood River County Sheriff's Office will be attempting to recover a vehicle from the Columbia River near Cascade Locks. This vehicle is believed to be associated with the 1958 missing persons case involving the Martin Family.

An independent diver discovered what is believed to be the vehicle the family was last seen in.

This is an active investigation and further details will be available at a later time.