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Police ID Body Found Off Interstate 4 In Polk County

News Channel 8 photo by JOHN WINTERROWD

The body was found just off the westbound lane of the interstate near mile marker 50.

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 14, 2008

Updated: 12/14/2008 05:57 pm

A man found dead Sunday morning on Interstate 4 in Polk County has been identified as Dontavious James Griffin, 21, of Orlando, authorities said.

A man returning from work about 7:40 a .m. Sunday found Griffin's body about 12 to 15 feet from the roadside and called 911, said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.

Griffin was identified through fingerprints, sheriff's spokeswoman Carrie Eleazer said in a statement.

Griffin had two arrests in Orange County, Eleazer said. In 2002, he was charged with displaying a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school. He was charged this year with possession of cocaine with intent to sell, theft of a firearm and carrying a concealed firearm.

Investigators say that Griffin's car is missing and has not been seen since Saturday night or Sunday morning. The car is described as a 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis, white on top and black on the bottom with black 22-inch rims. The Florida tag number is J294MP.

Judd said anyone who was traveling west on I-4 near mile marker 50 early Sunday morning may have seen something that would help detectives in the investigation.

Motorists may have seen a scuffle on the side of the road or a vehicle pulled over or broken down, Judd said.

Judd said the body was found in a rural area west of U.S. 27 with no nearby residences and the only witnesses are likely to be motorists on the interstate.

"He was certainly a victim of what appears to be a very violent crime," Judd said.

Griffin was fatally shot and investigators have ruled the case a homicide, the sheriff's office said.

One lane of westbound I-4 was shut down during the investigation.

Anyone with information can call the Polk County Sheriff's Office at (863) 534-6200, or Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-8477.

Reporter Ray Reyes contributed to this report.

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