Thanks to a curious dispatcher in Ohio, the identity of a man killed 12 years ago has been revealed.

Chad E. Griffith was killed on November 9, 1998 during a robbery involving cocaine at 9508 North 13th Street. Police said he was shot in the back of the head.

At the time of the murder, Griffith was known as John Doe until last Friday. Griffith, then 20, was from Marion, Ohio.

Samuel Hewitt, then 14, was convicted in the killing. Robert Hewitt, then 16, was convicted of tampering with evidence.

Samuel Hewitt

Robert Hewitt

Griffith’s mother reported him missing two years after his death and again in 2006.

The Ohio dispatcher was viewing a missing persons database. And found descriptions that pointed to Griffith, including a heart tattoo on his left hand. He gave the information to police.

Hillsborough County Medical Examiners determined that fingerprints from Marion, Ohio matched those on file in Tampa of the John Doe.

Griffith’s mother, Brenda Bautista, now living in Winter Haven, Florida, was called and told about the fate of her son.

Authorities said it is not clear why Griffith was in Tampa. It was initially speculated that he may have come to Florida to be close his mother.