Martha Marie Morrison’s story is one of tragedy and mystery, a tale that unfolded over decades, leaving a community searching for answers. Born in 1956, Morrison’s life took a dark turn in September 1974 when, at just 17 years old, she disappeared under troubling circumstances from her home in Portland, Oregon.
The case took a chilling turn on October 12, 1974, when human remains of two women were discovered in Dole Valley near Vancouver, Washington. One victim was swiftly identified as Carol Platt Valenzuela, but the other remained unknown. For over 40 years, the identity of this second victim remained a haunting enigma.
In a remarkable turn of events in 2015, advancements in DNA profiling finally unlocked the mystery, revealing the unidentified victim to be Martha Marie Morrison. This revelation breathed new life into the investigation, spurring law enforcement to redouble their efforts to solve her murder.
One significant breakthrough came in August 2017 when a bloodstain on a pistol owned by a longtime suspect, Warren Forrest, was matched to Morrison through DNA testing. Forrest, already incarcerated for another murder, emerged as a prime suspect in Morrison’s case as well.