The database showed that the description of the unidentified pedestrian killed in Navajo County in August 1994 was similar to Coconino County’s description of Nez. The Cold Case Unit also learned the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office had performed the autopsy on the unidentified man on behalf of Navajo County.

When the Cold Case volunteers and DPS investigators met to share information this year, they realized they might be working on the same case. They just needed to confirm John Doe’s identity.

Nez had been fingerprinted at age 7 as part of a nationwide Operation Child ID program. His mother had given the fingerprint card to the Sheriff’s detective who worked the original case when her son went missing.

The DPS Public Safety Crime Lab compared Nez’s fingerprint card to the prints from the accident victim.

They were a match.

“While this is a sad outcome for the family to know that their loved one is deceased, they are able to bring their loved one to rest,” said Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll.

Driscoll went on to talk about the mission of the Cold Case Unit.