Remains Found in Wisconsin Music Store Chimney Identified After 35 Years

The skeletal remains of a man, long known as "Chimney Doe," have been identified nearly 35 years after they were discovered in a chimney of a music store in Wisconsin. The remains belong to Ronnie Joe Kirk, a man whose life and death remain shrouded in mystery. His identification marks a significant step in an investigation that has puzzled authorities since the remains were found in 1989.

Kirk's remains were uncovered on September 3, 1989, by the owners of a now-demolished music store in Madison. They noticed a skull protruding from a pipe that connected the building's boiler to its chimney. Initial examinations suggested that the remains belonged to a white male aged between 18 and 35, dressed in what was described as "feminine" clothing. Despite extensive efforts over the years, authorities were unable to ascertain his identity or the circumstances surrounding his death.

The breakthrough in the case came in 2019 when a detective from the Madison Police Department referred the case to a nonprofit organization specializing in genetic genealogy. This organization, founded in 2017, utilizes advanced DNA analysis techniques to help identify unknown individuals. After two years of painstaking work, including the extraction of DNA from a piece of hair, investigators were able to construct a genetic profile that ultimately led to the identification of Kirk.

Born in 1942 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Kirk was adopted and had a complex family history, having been married twice and fathering three children. His last known contact with relatives occurred in 1970, when he divorced his second wife in Missouri. The identification of his remains has provided a sense of closure for his family, who were unaware of each other's existence until contacted by investigators. Gwen Knapp, the team leader of the organization that helped identify Kirk, expressed her excitement at being able to restore his name after so many years. "This was such a unique case with adoption and multiple generations of different marriages," she noted. "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."

Despite the advancements in forensic technology that led to Kirk's identification, questions remain about how he died and how his body ended up in the chimney. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes emphasized that this identification is merely the first step in the ongoing investigation. He urged the public to come forward with any information that might shed light on Kirk's life and death, stating, "Someone will remember him, and we’ll do everything that we can to try to trace down if he worked here, if he lived here, or if he was just passing through."

The case of "Chimney Doe" highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in identifying unknown individuals, particularly those with complex family histories. It also underscores the potential of modern forensic techniques to solve cold cases that have lingered for decades. As authorities continue to seek answers, the hope is that Kirk's identification will lead to further revelations about his life and the circumstances of his untimely death.