Cold Case Murder Victim Identified as Pendleton Marine

A man whose nude body was found on Nov. 10, 1974, in a large condominium complex in Long Beach was identified as a Marine from Camp Pendleton, detectives said Tuesday.

The body of Oral Stuart Jr. was found in the carport area of the complex near Spring Street and the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway, but the county coroner's office was unable to identify the man or determine the cause of death. He was eventually described as John Doe 155.

A grant from the National Institute of Justice enabled Long Beach Police Department detectives to reopen the case.

Suspecting he might have been in the military based on his physical description at the time, the Long Beach detectives contacted the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service Cold Case Unit at Camp Pendleton.

NCIS identified a U.S. Marine listed as a deserter on Nov. 22, 1974, just 12 days after the discovery of John Doe 155. The history indicated the Marine had specific tattoos on his arms, which matched tattoos observed on John Doe 155 during his autopsy.

The NCIS identified the Marine as Stuart.

Family members confirmed photographs of John Doe did indeed depict Stuart.

Cold case detectives suspected that Stuart's death involved foul play and the coroner's office reclassified the death as a homicide.

Detectives are still trying to get more answers in the case. Anyone with information on the case can call homicide  detectives Bryan McMahon or Mike Dugan at (562) 570-7244 or submit anonymous tips via web and text at www.tripsoft.com.