‘Chimney Doe’ found in Madison business identified after nearly 35 years

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – After more than three decades, investigators announced they have identified skeletal remains found in the chimney of a Madison business.

Madison Police Department Chief Shon Barnes revealed investigative genetic genealogy aided in identifying the individual as Ronnie Joe Kirk. His remains were found on Sept. 3, 1989, at the Good ‘n Loud music store, in Madison.

Police reported that an autopsy determined the individual was a white man between the ages of 18-35 and was 5-feet-7-inches tall. MPD also noted there was no way he could have gotten into the pipe where his remains were found from within the building.

Thirty years later, in 2019, MPD Detective Lindsey Ludden submitted the case to the DNA Doe Project using DNA.

DNA Doe Project Team Leader Gwenn Knapp explained it took two years to develop a DNA profile and that experts used a rootless hair as their sample.

Volunteers within the nonprofit were able to determine Kirk is originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, was born in 1942 and was adopted. Knapp explained that adoption can make genealogy work challenging.

“This was such a unique case with adoption, and multiple generations of different marriages, despite having a relatively close DNA relative match in the family,” said Knapp. “The shrewd genealogy work done by my team was amazing to tease out the various relationships. We’re so excited that we can give Ronnie Kirk his name back and hope his family has some closure for Ronnie being missing for so long.”

Officials noted Kirk had connections to Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama and Wisconsin.

Authorities still do not know Kirk’s approximate age or when he died. They are also still trying to piece together why he was in Madison. At the time when he was found, investigators noted he was wearing what was thought to be a dress at the time and an iron cross necklace.

Chief Barnes hopes now that Kirk has his name back, people who may recognize him or have information about him will come forward to investigators.

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