Oral Stuart Jr., Camp Pendleton Marine, was not AWOL, but died in 1974

Authorities say body found in California in 1974 is Iowa Marine missing from Camp Pendleton

By Associated Press, Published: March 19

LONG BEACH, Calif. — A body found naked in 1974 at a California condominium complex is a U.S. Marine from Iowa who had been listed as a deserter from Camp Pendleton, authorities said Monday.

The man known for more than 37 years as “John Doe (hash)155” is Oral Stuart Jr. of Des Moines, Long Beach police said in a statement.

His cause of death, previously listed as undetermined, has been reclassified as a homicide.

The body of Stewart, who was 18 when he disappeared, was found on Nov. 10, 1974, in the carport area of a complex near Interstate 605, police said. Twelve days later, Marine officials at Camp Pendleton some 50 miles to the south declared him a deserter.

Police looking into cold cases with a grant from the National Institute of Justice came to suspect the body may be a member of the military because of the man’s tattoos and haircut.
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