The skeletal remains of “Chimney Doe” were identified as Ronnie Joe Kirk, nearly 35 years after being found in a pipe at a Madison, Wisconsin music store. The circumstances surrounding Kirk’s death remain unknown, but authorities are hopeful that his identification will lead to new information. Kirk had connections to Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, and Wisconsin, and authorities are hoping that someone will remember him and provide more details about his life and activities in Madison. The skeleton was found in ‘feminine’ clothing, leading to initial confusion about the gender of the remains. With the help of the DNA Doe Project, a genetic profile was built from DNA extracted from a piece of rootless hair, eventually leading to the identification of Kirk. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1942, Kirk was an adopted child who had been married twice and fathered children before his death, although his living relatives were not identified by authorities.
The owners of the Good ‘n Loud music store on University Avenue in Madison found Kirk’s remains in September 1989, as they noticed a skull visible in a pipe connecting the boiler to the chimney. The initial autopsy had determined that the remains belonged to a white male between the ages of 18 and 35. Detective Lindsey Ludden decided to refer the case to the DNA Doe Project in 2019, which led to the eventual identification of Ronnie Joe Kirk. The DNA Doe Project is an organization dedicated to using investigative genetic genealogy to help identify unknown persons and has been successful in solving various cases. It took two years to build a genetic profile from the extracted DNA and eventually led to the identification of Kirk. Gwen Knapp, who led the team at the DNA Doe Project, praised the shrewd genealogy work done by her team in teasing out the various relationships within Kirk’s family.
Chief Shon Barnes of the Madison Police Department expressed hope that the identification of Ronnie Joe Kirk will lead to new information and shed light on the circumstances surrounding his death. Authorities are now looking to trace down Kirk’s connections in Madison to determine if he lived or worked in the area, or if he was simply passing through. Kirk’s connections to multiple states suggest that he may have had a transient lifestyle, making his identification and the circumstances of his death all the more mysterious. Barnes emphasized the importance of the community’s help in providing any information they may have about Kirk, as even the smallest detail could potentially be significant in solving the case.
The discovery and subsequent identification of Ronnie Joe Kirk have brought closure to a decades-old mystery and have given “Chimney Doe” back his name. Authorities and the DNA Doe Project worked tirelessly to unravel the mystery surrounding the skeletal remains found in the music store’s chimney, eventually leading to Kirk’s identification. The organization’s dedicated work in using genetic genealogy to solve unknown persons cases has been instrumental in bringing closure to families and communities affected by such mysteries. With Kirk’s identification, authorities hope to piece together the events that led to his death and potentially bring justice to his memory.
Despite the identification of Ronnie Joe Kirk, many questions still remain surrounding the circumstances of his death. The Madison Police Department is actively seeking the community’s assistance in providing any information about Kirk’s time in Madison or his connections to the area. Authorities are eager to piece together Kirk’s movements and activities leading up to his death, as well as any potential leads that may shed light on the mystery. The identification of Kirk marks a significant breakthrough in the case of “Chimney Doe” and gives hope that more information will come to light, bringing closure to his family and loved ones. Authorities remain committed to uncovering the truth behind Kirk’s death and are hopeful that the community’s help will provide crucial details to further the investigation.
