Who was Hazel Martin?

To those who didn’t know her, Hazel Martin might have seemed like a quiet, independent 74-year-old widow living a peaceful life in rural Idaho. But to the residents of Princeton and Potlatch, she was a vibrant, deeply rooted fixture of the community who loved socializing, staying active, and being surrounded by people.

A Life Rooted in the Community

Hazel was a familiar face all over Latah County. She was an avid and skilled card player, frequently attending community card parties. On the very night she disappeared, May 17, 1996, she had been doing what she loved most: socializing with friends and neighbors at a pinochle tournament at the Princeton Grange Hall.

She was also known for her active, independent spirit. Despite living alone on State Highway 6 after her husband passed away, Hazel maintained her home, stayed connected with her family, and was highly independent. She walked with a slight limp, the result of a previous hip surgery, but it rarely slowed her down.

How Her Community Remembers Her

Hazel’s disappearance and murder deeply shook the tight-knit Palouse region. In a small town where people left their doors unlocked and looked out for one another, Hazel was the neighbor everyone knew. When she went missing, the local community rallied immediately, launching massive ground searches across the rugged terrain and along the Palouse River.

She is remembered not as a cold case statistic, but as a mother, grandmother, neighbor, and friend who was deeply woven into the fabric of Princeton. Thirty years later, the drive to solve her case is fueled by the memory of her warmth and the firm belief that she deserved to live out her golden years in safety and peace.