In One Ear: Still missing

Published 5:00 am Thursday, February 19, 2026

Martha “Marty” Lavonne Benthin Evans has been missing for 36 years. Marty, 33, left the High Climber Room Lounge in Knappa on Feb. 10, 1990, heading for Warrenton driving a borrowed 1984 brown Ford Ranger truck.

Marty didn’t take her purse, and the only known clothing she had was the bridesmaid dress she was wearing and a jacket. She and the truck were last seen at a gas station outside Astoria, where she was talking on the phone, upset and crying. For a detailed account of the day she vanished, go to tinyurl.com/MartyByCGorrow.

“Law enforcement at the time told (our) family that she had voluntarily disappeared and refused to take a missing person report,” her sister, Linda Benthin-Weirup, recalled.

“No missing person report equals no investigation into someone’s disappearance,” Linda said, and no one was even questioned at the time if they had seen Marty. She wasn’t even listed as officially missing until around 2005.

“It is also possible that Marty misjudged the road,” Linda said, “and ended up in the Brownsmead Slough.” In 2020, a volunteer diver with Adventures With Purpose checked several sloughs, and they tried again in 2022. But they “never found anything solid,” Linda said.

If you know anything about what happened to Marty, call the Oregon State Police at 503-325-5515 or email ospmissingpersons@osp.oregon.gov. The case number is SP9002679.

“Missing our sister never ends,” Linda posted on Facebook on Feb. 10. “Your memory is with all of us every day, and everything we do, you are included. Your spirit is that strong! Love you Marty, 36 years is a long time …” (Photos: Linda Benthin-Weirup)