A Florida man disappeared in 1997. Then a random search on Google Earth revealed his fate.
/ CBS/AP
It took 22 years, but a missing man's remains were finally found thanks to someone who zoomed in on his former Florida neighborhood with Google satellite images and noticed a car submerged in a lake, authorities said. The skeletal remains were of William Moldt, who went missing in 1997 at the age of 40, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff's office spokeswoman Teri Barbera said on Thursday that a previous resident of the Grand Isles neighborhood in Wellington, Florida, was checking the neighborhood on Google Earth when he zoomed into the lake and saw what looked like a car.
The former resident contacted a current homeowner, who used a drone to confirm it was a white car on the edge of the pond behind his house. The man called the sheriff's office on Aug. 28, and deputies later arrived to find the white sedan's exterior "heavily calcified and was obviously in the water for a significant amount of time." After they got the car out, they found the skeletal remains inside.
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System says Moldt went to a nightclub in November 1997 but did not appear intoxicated as he left alone before midnight. He had called his girlfriend from the club saying he would return to their Lantana home soon.
The subdivision was under construction when Moldt went missing, but the pond was already there. Barry Fay, whose home is near where the car was found, told The Palm Beach Post that he had never noticed anything from the shoreline.
Trending News
"Never did I believe there would be a 22-year-old dead body," Fay told the newspaper.
First published on September 13, 2019 / 7:39 AM
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Bahamians decry government hurricane response as new storm looms
Some residents have been without power and running water for a week
23M ago 
Sanders distances himself on socialism from Venezuela's Maduro
"To equate what goes on in Venezuela to what I believe is extremely unfair," he said of differences between his politics and those of leftist Latin American regimes
6H ago 
Dems draw stark contrasts with Trump on immigration in debate
Asked about the high number of deportations during President Obama's tenure, Biden demurred and instead vowed to roll back Trump's hardline immigration polices
8H ago 
Israel denies claim it put spy devices near White House
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that Israel's "longstanding commitment" not to conduct espionage in the U.S. is "strictly enforced without exception"
12H ago 
Smuggler claims he'll move ISIS members throughout Europe
Filming with a hidden camera, CBS News set up a meeting with a man who runs a smuggling syndicate
12H ago 
A man vanished in 1997. A search on Google Earth revealed his fate.
A missing man's remains were finally found thanks to someone who zoomed in on his former Florida neighborhood with Google satellite images and noticed a car submerged in a lake
2M ago 
Genetic cancer risk scam may disqualify seniors from legitimate tests
Many never receive the results from these companies but their Medicare accounts are billed for thousands of dollars
4M ago 
Democrats trade barbs on health care and immigration in third debate
The top 10 leading candidates faced off on the debate stage for the first time
37M ago 
Irish ambassador says U.S. must protect Northern Ireland's peace deal
Irish Ambassador Daniel Mulhall spoke to Major Garrett for this week's episode of "The Takeout" podcast
1H ago 
Greenpeace protesters who dangled from bridge arrested
11 who rappelled were taken into custody by firefighters who did same thing to reach them on day of third Democratic presidential debate in Houston
1H ago
Democrats trade barbs on health care and immigration in third debate
The top 10 leading candidates faced off on the debate stage for the first time
37M ago
Irish ambassador says U.S. must protect Northern Ireland's peace deal
Irish Ambassador Daniel Mulhall spoke to Major Garrett for this week's episode of "The Takeout" podcast
1H ago
Greenpeace protesters who dangled from bridge arrested
11 who rappelled were taken into custody by firefighters who did same thing to reach them on day of third Democratic presidential debate in Houston
1H ago 
Texas lawmaker tweets at O'Rourke: My AR-15 "is ready for you"
O'Rourke called tweet, which came during Democratic debate, a death threat, and Twitter later removed it, saying it broke site's rules on threats and violence
4H ago
Sanders distances himself on socialism from Venezuela's Maduro
"To equate what goes on in Venezuela to what I believe is extremely unfair," he said of differences between his politics and those of leftist Latin American regimes
6H ago 
Singer Adele files for divorce from husband Simon Konecki
The singer, who had been married to Konecki for two years, previously announced she had separated from him in April
8H ago 
Daniel Johnston, Austin singer-songwriting icon, dies at 58
"The Devil and Daniel Johnston" filmmaker Jeff Feuerzeig called him "the greatest songwriter of my generation"
11H ago 
Book excerpt: Irwin Winkler's "A Life in Movies"
The Oscar-winning producer writes about how Martin Scorsese's classic "Raging Bull" made it to the screen
14H ago 
R. Kelly a no-show in Minnesota court on solicitation charge
The 52-year-old was a no-show for a case in which he's accused of offering a teen girl money to strip and dance for him in 2001
12H ago 
"The Situation" released from federal prison
Sorrentino's castmates recently tried to "free Sitch" early by going to lawmakers in Washington, D.C.
14H ago 
Apple reveals updated iPhones, watch and Apple TV series
The company's annual product event comes as it's selling fewer and fewer iPhones
Sep 10 
Startup can mine people's data from LinkedIn profiles
Company called HiQ Labs wins court OK to scrape profiles on LinkedIn for data about people's lives and connections
Sep 9 
48 states launch antitrust investigation into Google
From search to ads to data mining, "an ecosystem where people's whole internet experience is mediated through Google"
Sep 10 
Zuckerberg declines again to testify to international panel
It's the third time the Facebook CEO has refused an invitation to appear before a gathering of global lawmakers investigating disinformation
Sep 9 
Lost AirPods cost consumers more than half a billion dollars annually
Now hear this: Apple's AirPod sales could exceed $10 billion this year, with 5% to 7% of sales to replace lost ear buds
Sep 6
Protesters dangle from Houston bridge and close part of shipping channel
Sheriff's deputies said at a morning press conference that they would not attempt to force a rescue
16H ago 
NOAA scientist rips "political" backing of Trump's Dorian claims
Craig McLean, NOAA's acting chief scientist, wrote an email to colleagues that called the agency's response "political"
Sep 9 
Company pledges to clean up oil from facility damaged by Dorian
Norwegian-based Equinor says it was unclear how big the spill was at its oil terminal on Grand Bahama
Sep 8 
Nature up close: Beavers, the master engineers
A keystone species for animals and plants, beavers are crafty builders who continually reshape parts of Wyoming's Snake River
Sep 7 
New species of dinosaur discovered in Japan
The discovery is the largest dinosaur skeleton ever found in the country
Sep 6
Genetic cancer risk scam may disqualify seniors from legitimate tests
Many never receive the results from these companies but their Medicare accounts are billed for thousands of dollars
4M ago 
CDC revises down number of vaping-related illnesses
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state officials have been investigating an outbreak that began materializing in the Midwest in July
10H ago 
Rob Gronkowski on player safety and possible return to NFL
The three-time Super Bowl champ sat down with CBSN to talk about his future and the safety of football
11H ago 
Crackdown on flavored vaping products unlikely to take effect soon
"There'll be legal challenges, 'cause this is a big market," one expert said
12H ago 
Mosquitoes carrying rare, deadly virus found in Connecticut
Health officials in Connecticut are warning residents across the state about a mosquito-borne virus that can cause potentially fatal brain infections and has no treatment
21H ago 
U.S. budget deficit surpasses $1 trillion
Gap between what the government spends and how much money it takes in reaches highest level since 2012
14H ago 
Publix asks customers not to openly carry guns in its stores
A growing number of big retail chains are requesting that customers leave their firearms behind
18H ago 
Texas oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens has died at age 91
After making his fortune drilling for oil, the business magnate championed renewable energy including wind power
Sep 11 
StarKist to pay $100 million fine in tuna price-fixing case
The company pleaded guilty to colluding with other tuna packers to keep prices artificially high
Sep 11 
Purdue Pharma reaches tentative deal to settle opioid lawsuits
Arizona's attorney general said the tentative deal "was the quickest and surest way to get immediate relief" for communities devastated by the opioid epidemic
Sep 11 
Mixed verdict for young woman accused of killing, burying newborn
Young Ohio woman faces up to one year in prison, but could get probation since she's a first-time offender
14H ago 
In epidemic of mass shootings, ammo makers dodge blame
Unlike firearms manufacturers, ammo makers have largely escaped public scrutiny for gun violence — that may be changing
14H ago
R. Kelly a no-show in Minnesota court on solicitation charge
The 52-year-old was a no-show for a case in which he's accused of offering a teen girl money to strip and dance for him in 2001
12H ago 
"The Situation" released from federal prison
The "Jersey Shore" cast's latest "situation" is that their pal and former housemate Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino has been released from prison. The reality TV star left the Federal Correctional Institution in Otisville, New York, on Thursday after serving an eight month sentence for pleading guilty to tax evasion. CBSN New York reports.
13H ago 00:30 
Alleged El Paso shooter indicted on capital murder charges
Federal prosecutors have said they are weighing hate-crime charges that could also carry the death penalty
16H ago 
Fire delays rocket launch to the International Space Station
It's not yet known when the HTV-8 cargo ship will be launched to the International Space Station
Sep 10 
Friday the 13th to get full Harvest Moon
Lucky us – the rare occurrence hasn't happened in 19 years
Sep 10 
India fails to land on the moon
India hoped to become the fourth nation to soft-land on the moon with their Chandrayaan-2 space mission. But their space agency, ISRO, lost communication with their lander just before the mission was complete. CBS News Space Consultant Bill Harwood joins CBSN to discuss the apparent failure.
9H ago 05:43 
Indian spacecraft apparently crashes in moon landing attempt
India seeks to join the U.S., Russia and China as the only countries to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon
Sep 6 
Trump launches U.S. Space Command
President Trump held a Rose Garden event to commemorate the establishment of the U.S. Space Command Thursday, as the president pushes for the creation of his sixth branch of the military, the Space Force. CBS News' Bofta Yimam reports.
Aug 29 01:53 
Photographer Robert Frank 1924-2019
A look back at the work of one of the most influential of photographers who created intimate, moody portraits of an America struggling to define itself in a post-war world
Sep 10 19 photos 
Photos: Hurricane Dorian's devastation
"Everything's gone! Everything!" one woman said after Dorian slammed into the Bahamas
Sep 6 42 photos 
The most valuable NFL teams in 2019, ranked
Thanks to some pricey TV deals, a relocation, and brand-new stadiums, the NFL has never been more valuable.
Sep 5 40 photos 
Highest-paid NFL players in 2019, ranked
These are the NFL superstars who earn the most cash this season
Aug 29 50 photos 
Ashley Fallis death: A family's fight for justice
Was the Colorado mother's 2012 death a suicide, as her husband maintains, or was it murder, as her parents insist?
Aug 24 15 photos 
Popular
New details emerge in CA dive boat fire
New information about the deadly dive boat fire in California raises concerns about whether the crew broke any laws. The wreckage of the boat, Conception, was pulled from the water near Santa Barbara on Thursday. Jonathan Vigliotti reports.
updated 4M ago 01:30 
New storm looms over the Bahamas
Parts of the Bahamas are under tropical storm warnings Friday morning, as a new system takes shape over the southern parts of the island chain. By Saturday, it will pass Grand Bahama, which was devastated by Hurricane Dorian less than two weeks ago. And as residents brace for another storm, they slammed their government for not providing aid in the wake of Dorian. Errol Barnett reports.
updated 11M ago 02:55 
Drinking culture and American kids
On America's college campuses, there are epidemics we talk about and those we don't. When sexual assaults or fraternity hazing deaths make headlines, court cases follow and new rules are enacted, but less attention is paid to an underlying issue – binge drinking culture. CBSN Originals explores how drinking to excess is not only considered normal, but cool, and how for many young people "blacking out" is less a rarity than an every weekend occurrence – with grave consequences.
Sep 5 23:34 
Why Castro may have erred with Biden attack
The divisions between the candidates were impossible to miss on some issues. Over the course of nearly three hours, perhaps the most notable differences came between the top three contenders at center stage: national frontrunner Joe Biden and senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett joins “CBS This Morning” to discuss the debate.
updated 4M ago 02:54 
Third debate shows divide among Democrats
In the third Democratic presidential debate, the ten candidates showed a clear divide between the party's political center and its left wing. It was the first time all the top Democrats in the race appeared together. They displayed more than a diversity of ideas: In a first, there were three women, two African-Americans, one Latino, and one Asian contender on stage telling voters why they should be the next president. Ed O’Keefe reports.
updated 4M ago 03:49
