Ashley Flowers

That call came into San Francisco dispatch in the early morning hours of January 27th, 1974. And I know that might have been a little hard to make out, but the gist is that the caller found a body on the beach. He didn't want to get too close to it. And the caller would not leave his name. He just thought that maybe the guy on the beach might need some help.

That call came into San Francisco dispatch in the early morning hours of January 27th, 1974. And I know that might have been a little hard to make out, but the gist is that the caller found a body on the beach. He didn't want to get too close to it. And the caller would not leave his name. He just thought that maybe the guy on the beach might need some help.

Now, within minutes, they had officers descending on the scene. And what they found when they got there was odd. I mean, they quickly spot the body that the caller told them about. But he's not just lying there on the beach, like the caller said. He is fully in the water, about to be pulled out with the tide. So much so that officers have to wade in and drag him back to dry land.

Now, within minutes, they had officers descending on the scene. And what they found when they got there was odd. I mean, they quickly spot the body that the caller told them about. But he's not just lying there on the beach, like the caller said. He is fully in the water, about to be pulled out with the tide. So much so that officers have to wade in and drag him back to dry land.

And by the way, no one is thinking that this guy could have drowned or anything. He has got wounds everywhere. He was a victim of a homicide, no doubt. But here is the even stranger part. At nearly 2 a.m. when this call came in, it is midnight. It's very dark out and there isn't any lighting down by the water.

And by the way, no one is thinking that this guy could have drowned or anything. He has got wounds everywhere. He was a victim of a homicide, no doubt. But here is the even stranger part. At nearly 2 a.m. when this call came in, it is midnight. It's very dark out and there isn't any lighting down by the water.

So when they get this body to the shore and have a minute to like take it all in, they're like, wait, what was this caller even doing out here on the beach in the middle of the night? And how exactly did he spot this body in the pitch dark? Now, it is worth noting that this beach is a common hookup spot.

So when they get this body to the shore and have a minute to like take it all in, they're like, wait, what was this caller even doing out here on the beach in the middle of the night? And how exactly did he spot this body in the pitch dark? Now, it is worth noting that this beach is a common hookup spot.

Now, there's no one else around when they get there, but maybe that's why the caller was out there. Like, TBD who he is, who he was with. But it might be all the reason in the world not to give his name when he called this in. Who knows, right? Like, is he married? Who was he with? Blah, blah, blah. But the caller's name isn't the only thing that they're missing.

Now, there's no one else around when they get there, but maybe that's why the caller was out there. Like, TBD who he is, who he was with. But it might be all the reason in the world not to give his name when he called this in. Who knows, right? Like, is he married? Who was he with? Blah, blah, blah. But the caller's name isn't the only thing that they're missing.

They don't find a wallet or anything in the victim's clothes that would tell them his name either. I mean, really, they don't find much of anything at all. We asked retired homicide inspector Sergeant Dan Cunningham to describe the scene for us. He still works cold cases for the department, including this one, so it was still pretty fresh in his mind. And he was basically like, uh, what scene?

They don't find a wallet or anything in the victim's clothes that would tell them his name either. I mean, really, they don't find much of anything at all. We asked retired homicide inspector Sergeant Dan Cunningham to describe the scene for us. He still works cold cases for the department, including this one, so it was still pretty fresh in his mind. And he was basically like, uh, what scene?

Because, duh, the guy was like on the verge of being swallowed up by the Pacific, which doesn't leave investigators with a whole lot to work with. In the following days, they put out a couple of media requests for the caller to come forward. Maybe he could shed some more light on the circumstances around all of this. Like, were there other people on the beach?

Because, duh, the guy was like on the verge of being swallowed up by the Pacific, which doesn't leave investigators with a whole lot to work with. In the following days, they put out a couple of media requests for the caller to come forward. Maybe he could shed some more light on the circumstances around all of this. Like, were there other people on the beach?

Was he with anyone when he found the body? Did he see anything? But whoever that guy is that called in, he either never gets the message that police are looking for him, which I find hard to believe this was going far and wide at the time, or he is intentionally laying low because he never comes forward.

Was he with anyone when he found the body? Did he see anything? But whoever that guy is that called in, he either never gets the message that police are looking for him, which I find hard to believe this was going far and wide at the time, or he is intentionally laying low because he never comes forward.

So I kind of think those are two separate questions because I don't think he had been in the water long because he wound up there on account of the tide coming in, not because of like he was killed and put there.

So I kind of think those are two separate questions because I don't think he had been in the water long because he wound up there on account of the tide coming in, not because of like he was killed and put there.

As for how long he'd been dead, what I know is that the coroner finds that he was in the early stages of rigor mortis, which like quick reminder for crime junkies, that tends to begin around two hours post-death but can take up to six hours.

As for how long he'd been dead, what I know is that the coroner finds that he was in the early stages of rigor mortis, which like quick reminder for crime junkies, that tends to begin around two hours post-death but can take up to six hours.