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More than 50 years between them. but nothing like the case that literally floated to them on a lonely reach of ocean out by catalina. would never have had the case at all, except -- >> we were lucky that we had some boaters leaving newport beach going to catalina island and they came upon a body floating in the water. >> just happened to see it? >> just happened to see it. >> that's a big ocean out there. >> absolutely. >> so the chances of it being seen are, what, needle in the haystack? >> very slim. >> reporter: the sailors had spotted a flock of shrieking seagulls perched on top of a body....

And they came upon a body floating in the water. >> just happened to see it? >> just happened to see it. >> that's a big ocean out there. >> absolutely. >> so the chances of it being seen are, what, needle in the haystack? >> very slim. >> reporter: the sailors had spotted a flock of shrieking seagulls perched on top of a body. it looked like it had been in the water for some time. >> it was in extreme decomposition phase. >> right. >> bloated and -- >> barnacles had attached themselves. >> barnacles already? >> absolutely. >> yes. >> reporter: there was no i.d. on the body. it was labeled a '...

Literally floated to them on a lonely reach of ocean out by catalina. would never have had the case at all, except -- >> we were lucky that we had some boaters leaving newport beach going to catalina island and they came upon a body floating in the water. >> just happened to see it? >> just happened to see it. >> that's a big ocean out there. >> absolutely. >> so the chances of it being seen are, what, needle in the haystack? >> very slim. >> reporter: the sailors had spotted a flock of shrieking seagulls perched on top of a body. it looked like it had been in the water for some time. >> it wa...

Would never have had the case at all, except -- >> we were lucky we had some boaters leaving port beach going to the island, and they came up on a body floating in the water. >> reporter: just happened to see it? it's a big ocean out there. >> just happened to see it, absolutely. >> reporter: so the chances of it being seen are a needle in a hay stack? >> very slim. >> reporter: they spotted seagals on a body. >> it was in extreme decomposition phase, bloated, and barnacles already. >> reporter: already? >> yes. >> reporter: there was no id on the body. labeled john doe, and taken to the l.a. ...

>> reporter: ken clark of the l.a. sheriff's department has been at it a long time. as has robert martindale, more than 50 years between them. but nothing like the case that literally floated to them on a lonely reach of ocean out by catalina, would never have had the case at all, except. >> we were lucky that we had some boaters leaving newport beach going to catalina ie lsla and they came upon a body floating in the water. >> reporter: just happened to see it? >> just happened to see it. >> that's a big ocean out there. >> reporter: the sailors had spotted a flock of shrieking sea gulls penc...