george rombach had once complained to standefer about not getting any return on his investment. mbach says, investigators from the navy got a fax from standefer. that one accused george of smuggling naval artifacts. >> the first time after that communication went out, i was detained coming back into this country and strip-searched, and my luggage turned inside-out for about 2 1/2 hours. >> reporter: investigators also searched george's home office, filled indeed with maritime artifacts but ones he owned legally. the investigation was dropped. just as the pasadena police dropped their investigation against karl ryll. but then, karl asked the detective to go after standefer. and then where did it go from there? >> he said i understand your situation and sympathize with you. but he said there is really nothing we can do. we have murder cases here we can't solve. he said, i'll be happy to take a report. but there is nothing we can do. this guy is overseas somewhere. think about it. >> reporter: karl did think about it. >> i made a decision that day that i was going to find him. and i