Ronnie Joe Kirk (born October 27, 1942), formerly known as Dane County Doe and Chimney Doe, was a man whose skeletal remains were found in a chimney in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1989.
Kirk was identified on May 13, 2024, by the DNA Doe Project.
Background[]
Kirk was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and was raised by relatives who later legally adopted him. He married twice, had three children, and was a factory worker. In 1970 he failed to attend a divorce hearing with his second wife on multiple occasions. His last recorded address was in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Investigators are unsure of when he died and are attempting to piece together his life between 1968 and 1989.
Case[]
Kirk's skeleton was found by a custodian who discovered the remains inside the chimney of a business while doing repairs.
The bones of the pelvic region had been broken, and the injuries appeared to have occurred at the time of death, possibly from a fall or someone stomping on this region of the body. Authorities theorized Kirk either entered on accident or was concealed there by another person.
When his remains were found, it was reported that he was wearing a paisley dress. This led to speculation by police that he may have been gender variant, potentially being the victim of a hate crime. It was also suggested that the clothing associated with the victim could have been used as an attempt to throw off investigators, if Kirk had been murdered.
At the time of his identification, there was no indication that Kirk identified as a woman or was fluid in terms of gender expression.
Characteristics[]
- Brown hair, measured at four inches.
- Slim build.
- Visible overbite.
- Narrow nose.
Clothing and accessories[]
- Paisley print sleeveless dress with a matching belt.
- Long-sleeved button-down shirt.
- Black blouse.
- White Stag sweater, size M.
- Low-heeled, pointed shoes.
- Socks.
- Necklace with a German iron cross medallion.
- Butter knife.
- Pocket comb.
Gallery[]
