Account
May 03, 2012
Jan 08, 2024
Marvin
Clark
166
69
67 inches
68 inches
150 lbs
170 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
In the autumn of 1926, a chapter of a family's history was left unfinished when 69-year-old Marvin Alvin Clark vanished. On October 30th, he departed from his home in the Tigard, Oregon area, with the intention of visiting his daughter in Portland. He was seen taking a "motor stage" for the roughly 10-mile journey but never reached his daughter's residence. A man who was well-known in his community, Clark had resided in Tigard for about 15 years and was the former town marshall of Linnton. His familiarity with the local area, including the region above the St. Helens Highway, made his disappearance all the more perplexing to those who knew him. Compounding the concern was Clark's physical condition; he was partially paralyzed on his right side, which caused him to walk with a noticeable limp or a "halting gait" and he may have used a cane. The days following his failure to arrive were filled with growing anxiety for his family. A frantic search was initiated, and his daughter offered a $100 reward for any information that could lead to his whereabouts. Descriptions of Clark were circulated, noting he was wearing a dark suit, wire-rimmed eyeglasses, and leather 'high top' boots at the time of his disappearance. Despite these efforts and the distinctiveness of his walk, no credible leads emerged. The initial investigation, which included notifying police across the Pacific Northwest, failed to uncover any trace of the missing man. The passage of time did little to shed light on the mystery, and the case grew cold, leaving his loved ones with unanswered questions. Decades later, a significant development offered a glimmer of hope, however brief. In 1986, the skeletal remains of an unidentified male were discovered by loggers in a wooded area in northwest Multnomah County. The location and the estimated time of death seemed to align with Clark's disappearance, leading to speculation that the long-unsolved case might finally be closed. However, forensic analysis estimated the age of the remains to be between 35 and 55 years old, younger than Clark's age at the time he went missing. In 2018, this possibility was definitively put to rest when DNA testing confirmed that the remains were not those of Marvin Clark. His case, considered one of the oldest active missing person investigations in the United States, remains unresolved. The story of Marvin Clark is a poignant reminder of the enduring pain and uncertainty that surrounds a person's disappearance, a mystery that has now spanned generations.
Oct 30, 1926
Tigard
Oregon
Multnomah County
No
11704
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office
Portland
Oregon
Multnomah County
97214
Lee Gosson
Detective Sgt.
501 Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, Suite 350, Oregon
5039884300
County
Law Enforcement
86-4910
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
06/01/2026
