Murder Of Martha Morrison
Unsolved Murder Case
CLASSIFICATION: Murder
LOCATION
Portland, Oregon
TIME PERIOD
September 1974
VICTIMS
1 confirmed
Martha Marie Morrison, a 17-year-old girl from Portland, Oregon, disappeared on September 1, 1974, and was later found murdered, with her remains discovered on October 12, 1974, in Dole Valley, Vancouver, Washington. Initially unidentified, her remains were confirmed to be those of Morrison through DNA profiling on July 13, 2015. Warren Forrest, a longtime suspect in the case, was linked to the murder after a bloodstain on his pistol matched Morrison's DNA in August 2017. He was charged with her murder in 2020 and subsequently found guilty of first-degree murder in February 2023, bringing a resolution to the case that had remained unsolved for nearly five decades.
Warren Forrest is widely believed to be responsible for Martha Morrison's murder, especially after a bloodstain on his pistol matched her DNA. Before Forrest was identified as a suspect, investigators and the public speculated that notorious serial killers Ted Bundy and Randall Woodfield could have been involved in her disappearance and murder. The case has drawn attention due to its long period of unresolved mystery, with Morrison's remains remaining unidentified for over four decades.
The Unsolved Case of Martha Morrison
In 1974, a quiet corner of the Pacific Northwest became the backdrop for a chilling mystery that would take over four decades to unravel. Martha Marie Morrison, a 17-year-old from Portland, Oregon, vanished without a trace in early September of that year, leaving behind a life intertwined with foster care, familial challenges, and a history of running away. Her story would become one of persistence, with investigators and family members refusing to let her memory fade into the annals of cold cases.
A Disappearance that Haunted
Martha Morrison was born in 1957 in Eugene, Oregon. She and her sister, Reba, grew up under challenging circumstances, with their mother being deaf, which led Martha to become proficient in sign language. Despite these hardships, Martha attended Roosevelt High School in Portland and spent time at the Corvallis Farm School. Her journey also took her to Arizona, where she joined the Job Corps program. However, her life was marred by drug use and frequent escapes from both her biological and foster homes.
The last sighting of Martha was on September 1, 1974, when she left the apartment she shared with a man she had been seen quarreling with. Prior to her disappearance, she had visited her family in Eugene with this man, marking the last time they would see her alive.
Discovery of the Remains
On October 12, 1974, the serene woods of Dole Valley near Vancouver, Washington, became a crime scene when the skeletal remains of two women were discovered. While one set of remains was quickly identified as 18-year-old Carol Platt Valenzuela, the other remained a mystery. Despite extensive efforts, the second victim's identity remained elusive, estimated to be between 20 and 25 years old.
Valenzuela had vanished on August 2, 1974, after hitchhiking to Vancouver, sparking an investigation that would eventually release her husband from suspicion following a polygraph test. The search for answers led authorities to conduct forensic facial reconstructions, but the public offered no leads.
The Long Road to Identification
For over 40 years, Martha Morrison's remains were misidentified and misfiled, erroneously attributed to Valenzuela. It wasn't until 2011 that discrepancies in dental records led to a reevaluation. By this time, Morrison's family had provided DNA samples, hoping to match them with any unidentified remains. In 2015, the breakthrough came—Martha Morrison's identity was confirmed with a 99.999998% probability, thanks to DNA testing funded by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
The Hunt for a Killer
With her identity finally established, the focus shifted to finding her killer. Initially, notorious serial killers like Ted Bundy and Randall Woodfield were considered persons of interest. However, it was Warren Leslie Forrest, already serving time for the 1974 murder of Krista Kay Blake, who emerged as the prime suspect. In 2017, DNA testing linked a bloodstain on an air pistol owned by Forrest to Martha Morrison, sealing his fate.
Forrest had been a suspect in multiple disappearances, including those of Diane Gilchrist in 1974 and Jamie Grissom in 1971. His arrest on October 2, 1974, was a mere ten days before the discovery of Morrison and Valenzuela's bodies. The connection between the two victims, found together, strengthened the case against him.
Justice Served
The long quest for justice culminated on February 1, 2023, when Warren Leslie Forrest was found guilty of first-degree murder for the killing of Martha Morrison. This verdict was a testament to the relentless pursuit of truth by investigators and the unwavering hope of Martha's family.
While the trial resolved one part of the mystery, the full story of what happened to Martha Morrison may never be known. As investigators continued to seek information, they reached out to the public, hoping to locate Martha's boyfriend from the time of her disappearance—not as a suspect, but as a potential witness with crucial information.
The Legacy of Martha Morrison
Martha Morrison's case is more than a tale of tragedy; it is a story of perseverance and the enduring human spirit committed to seeking justice. Her identification and the subsequent conviction of her murderer highlight the advances in forensic science and the relentless dedication of those who refuse to let the past remain buried.
Sources
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Martha Disappears
Martha Morrison, 17, goes missing under mysterious circumstances.
Remains Discovered
Human remains of two women, including one unidentified, found in Dole Valley.
Identification of Remains
DNA profiling identifies the unidentified remains as Martha Morrison.
DNA Match Found
Bloodstain on a pistol linked to suspect Warren Forrest matches Morrison's DNA.
Forrest Charged
Warren Leslie Forrest is charged with the murder of Martha Morrison.
Forrest Found Guilty
Warren Leslie Forrest is found guilty of first degree murder for Morrison's killing.
Martha Marie Morrison, a 17-year-old girl from Portland, Oregon, disappeared on September 1, 1974, and was later found murdered, with her remains discovered on October 12, 1974, in Dole Valley, Vancouver, Washington. Initially unidentified, her remains were confirmed to be those of Morrison through DNA profiling on July 13, 2015. Warren Forrest, a longtime suspect in the case, was linked to the murder after a bloodstain on his pistol matched Morrison's DNA in August 2017. He was charged with her murder in 2020 and subsequently found guilty of first-degree murder in February 2023, bringing a resolution to the case that had remained unsolved for nearly five decades.
Warren Forrest is widely believed to be responsible for Martha Morrison's murder, especially after a bloodstain on his pistol matched her DNA. Before Forrest was identified as a suspect, investigators and the public speculated that notorious serial killers Ted Bundy and Randall Woodfield could have been involved in her disappearance and murder. The case has drawn attention due to its long period of unresolved mystery, with Morrison's remains remaining unidentified for over four decades.
The Unsolved Case of Martha Morrison
In 1974, a quiet corner of the Pacific Northwest became the backdrop for a chilling mystery that would take over four decades to unravel. Martha Marie Morrison, a 17-year-old from Portland, Oregon, vanished without a trace in early September of that year, leaving behind a life intertwined with foster care, familial challenges, and a history of running away. Her story would become one of persistence, with investigators and family members refusing to let her memory fade into the annals of cold cases.
A Disappearance that Haunted
Martha Morrison was born in 1957 in Eugene, Oregon. She and her sister, Reba, grew up under challenging circumstances, with their mother being deaf, which led Martha to become proficient in sign language. Despite these hardships, Martha attended Roosevelt High School in Portland and spent time at the Corvallis Farm School. Her journey also took her to Arizona, where she joined the Job Corps program. However, her life was marred by drug use and frequent escapes from both her biological and foster homes.
The last sighting of Martha was on September 1, 1974, when she left the apartment she shared with a man she had been seen quarreling with. Prior to her disappearance, she had visited her family in Eugene with this man, marking the last time they would see her alive.
Discovery of the Remains
On October 12, 1974, the serene woods of Dole Valley near Vancouver, Washington, became a crime scene when the skeletal remains of two women were discovered. While one set of remains was quickly identified as 18-year-old Carol Platt Valenzuela, the other remained a mystery. Despite extensive efforts, the second victim's identity remained elusive, estimated to be between 20 and 25 years old.
Valenzuela had vanished on August 2, 1974, after hitchhiking to Vancouver, sparking an investigation that would eventually release her husband from suspicion following a polygraph test. The search for answers led authorities to conduct forensic facial reconstructions, but the public offered no leads.
The Long Road to Identification
For over 40 years, Martha Morrison's remains were misidentified and misfiled, erroneously attributed to Valenzuela. It wasn't until 2011 that discrepancies in dental records led to a reevaluation. By this time, Morrison's family had provided DNA samples, hoping to match them with any unidentified remains. In 2015, the breakthrough came—Martha Morrison's identity was confirmed with a 99.999998% probability, thanks to DNA testing funded by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
The Hunt for a Killer
With her identity finally established, the focus shifted to finding her killer. Initially, notorious serial killers like Ted Bundy and Randall Woodfield were considered persons of interest. However, it was Warren Leslie Forrest, already serving time for the 1974 murder of Krista Kay Blake, who emerged as the prime suspect. In 2017, DNA testing linked a bloodstain on an air pistol owned by Forrest to Martha Morrison, sealing his fate.
Forrest had been a suspect in multiple disappearances, including those of Diane Gilchrist in 1974 and Jamie Grissom in 1971. His arrest on October 2, 1974, was a mere ten days before the discovery of Morrison and Valenzuela's bodies. The connection between the two victims, found together, strengthened the case against him.
Justice Served
The long quest for justice culminated on February 1, 2023, when Warren Leslie Forrest was found guilty of first-degree murder for the killing of Martha Morrison. This verdict was a testament to the relentless pursuit of truth by investigators and the unwavering hope of Martha's family.
While the trial resolved one part of the mystery, the full story of what happened to Martha Morrison may never be known. As investigators continued to seek information, they reached out to the public, hoping to locate Martha's boyfriend from the time of her disappearance—not as a suspect, but as a potential witness with crucial information.
The Legacy of Martha Morrison
Martha Morrison's case is more than a tale of tragedy; it is a story of perseverance and the enduring human spirit committed to seeking justice. Her identification and the subsequent conviction of her murderer highlight the advances in forensic science and the relentless dedication of those who refuse to let the past remain buried.
Sources
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Martha Disappears
Martha Morrison, 17, goes missing under mysterious circumstances.
Remains Discovered
Human remains of two women, including one unidentified, found in Dole Valley.
Identification of Remains
DNA profiling identifies the unidentified remains as Martha Morrison.
DNA Match Found
Bloodstain on a pistol linked to suspect Warren Forrest matches Morrison's DNA.
Forrest Charged
Warren Leslie Forrest is charged with the murder of Martha Morrison.
Forrest Found Guilty
Warren Leslie Forrest is found guilty of first degree murder for Morrison's killing.