In December 1958, The Martin family left their home in Portland, Oregon to gather some greenery for Christmas crafts. They would never return home. It has now been over 65 years since the Martin family's mysterious disappearance from the Columbia River Gorge, marking it as one of Oregon's most perplexing unsolved cases.

Takeaways

• The disappearance of the Martin family remains an unsolved mystery.
• The Columbia River Gorge in Oregon is a challenging location for search and rescue operations.
• Conflicting reports and autopsy findings make it difficult to determine what happened to the Martin family.
• The discovery of the bodies of two of the Martin children raises more questions about their fate. The condition of the bodies and the presence of aluminium in their autopsy findings suggest they were in or around the river for a significant amount of time.
• The threatening phone calls received by Dr. Waterman and the unclaimed urns of Virginia and Susan raise suspicions of foul play.
• Donald Martin's suspicious behavior, including failing to attend memorial services and inheriting the entire Martin estate, makes him a prime suspect.
• The possible involvement of ex-convicts and the connection to Wayne, a close friend of Donald, further complicates the case.
• The opposition from law enforcement agencies and the mishandling of evidence hindered the investigation. The story of the helicopter heist involving Santa and Rudolph is a fascinating mystery.
• Santa's escape to Lapland and his possible involvement in the theft adds intrigue to the story.
• The motive behind the theft and the whereabouts of the stolen helicopter remain unknown.
• The podcast 'Santa May Be a Criminal' is recommended for those interested in satirical true crime stories.

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