The skeletal remains of a man known as “Chimney Doe” were identified as Ronnie Joe Kirk, nearly 35 years after he was found in a pipe at a music store in Madison, Wisconsin. The circumstances surrounding Kirk’s death still remain a mystery to the Madison Police Department, but Chief Shon Barnes expressed hope that the identification of the remains will lead to new information. Kirk had connections to Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, and Wisconsin, but whether he lived or worked in Madison or was just passing through is still unknown.
Kirk’s remains were discovered in 1989 by the owners of the Good ‘n Loud music store, who noticed a skull in a pipe connecting the boiler to the chimney. Initial investigations revealed that he was a white male between the ages of 18 and 35 and was wearing “feminine” clothing. In 2019, detective Lindsey Ludden referred the “Chimney Doe” case to the DNA Doe Project, an organization dedicated to using investigative genetic genealogy to identify unknown individuals. It took two years to build a genetic profile from DNA extracted from a piece of rootless hair, leading investigators to Ronnie Joe Kirk.
Ronnie Joe Kirk was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1942 and was an adopted child. He had been married twice and fathered children before his death, although his living relatives have not been identified. Gwen Knapp, who led the DNA Doe Project team, expressed excitement in being able to give “Chimney Doe” his name back. She highlighted the challenging nature of the case due to adoption and multiple generations of different marriages within Kirk’s family, but credited her team’s genealogy work in uncovering the various relationships.
Chief Barnes emphasized the importance of the identification of Ronnie Joe Kirk in potentially shedding light on the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death. He urged anyone with information about Kirk or his connections to reach out to authorities in an effort to piece together the events leading to his demise. The Madison Police Department remains committed to solving the case and bringing closure to Kirk’s loved ones, while continuing to investigate any leads that may arise from the newfound information on his identity.
The discovery and identification of Ronnie Joe Kirk serves as a testament to the advances in forensic science and genealogy techniques that have enabled authorities to solve long-standing cold cases. The use of DNA analysis and genetic genealogy has proven to be a valuable tool in identifying unknown persons and providing closure to families of missing individuals. The “Chimney Doe” case is a remarkable example of how cooperation between law enforcement agencies and organizations dedicated to solving cold cases can lead to breakthroughs in investigations that were once thought to be unsolvable.
The story of Ronnie Joe Kirk, once known only as “Chimney Doe,” is a poignant reminder of the importance of never giving up on finding answers in cases of unidentified remains. His identification after nearly three and a half decades is a testament to the dedication of law enforcement officials and organizations like the DNA Doe Project in pursuing justice and closure for victims and their families. The hope now is that with his name known, new leads will emerge in the investigation, ultimately bringing clarity and resolution to the mysterious circumstances of Kirk’s tragic death.
