William Earl Moldt was first reported missing on 7 November 1997 after leaving a bar.

Axar.az reports citing ITV that the mortgage broker had called his girlfriend shortly after 9.30 pm to say he would be coming home soon.

He did not seem to be intoxicated and left around 90 minutes later. But the 40-year-old, who was known as Bill and not a frequent drinker, did not return home. He was never heard from again.

The case appeared to go cold and was taken on by the Charley Project, an initiative which keeps details of missing people after they stop receiving press attention. Some two decades later, a breakthrough came.

Late last month, a resident of Wellington, Florida who was looking at the area on Google Earth saw the white outline in the water. He contacted a homeowner near the pond, a drone was then dispatched and a car uncovered. Police were then contacted. Pulling the car from the water, they found it heavily calcified with the body of Mr. Moldt inside.

He was around 20 miles from his last known location.

The discovery of the body, which is thought to have been there since the construction of the houses nearby more than 20 years ago, closes the case.

Despite Mr. Moldt only being found last month, the satellite image which leads to his discovery has been online since 2007.