Body found decades ago is Iowa Marine

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Authorities have learned a that body found naked outside a southern California condominium in 1974 is a Marine from Iowa who was listed as a deserter from Camp Pendleton.

Long Beach police said in a statement Monday that the man known for more than 37 years as “John Doe #155” is Oral Stuart Jr. of Des Moines.

Police who were looking into cold cases recently suspected that the body may be that of a member of the military.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service found that tattoos on the body matched those of Stuart, and relatives confirmed his identity.

The body was found on Nov. 10, 1974, and 12 days later the Marines listed Stuart as a deserter. Family members said he never would have voluntarily deserted.

His death has been reclassified as a homicide.