The person at the center of this case
Ronnie Joe Kirk
Homicide · Open
36 years waiting · since 1989
RONNIE JOE KIRK - MADISON, WISCONSIN
Justice for Ronnie Joe Kirk — the trail went cold in 1989, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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person
Lead #1What was Kirk's life history and whereabouts between 1968 and 1989, particularly during his travels through Alabama, California, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin?
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evidence
Lead #2How did Kirk end up inside the music store chimney, and what was the actual cause of death?
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clue
Lead #3Did Kirk have any connections to the Good 'n Loud music store or the Madison area prior to his death?
Ronnie Joe Kirk was discovered dead inside a chimney at the Good 'n Loud music store in Madison, Wisconsin on September 3, 1989, and remained unidentified for 35 years until forensic genetic genealogy confirmed his identity in 2024. The circumstances of how Kirk ended up in the chimney and the cause of death remain unclear, making this a significant cold case. Investigators are seeking information about Kirk's life and movements between 1968 and 1989, particularly his travels through Alabama, California, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
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witness
Lead #4Did anyone see Kirk in Madison or the surrounding areas in the weeks or months before September 1989?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Madison, Wisconsin September 3, 1989 Police are seeking information regarding the death of Ronnie Joe Kirk. Kirk was found deceased in a chimney of the Good ‘n Loud music store in Madison, Wisconsin, on September 3, 1989.
He was listed as Unidentified Human Remains until 2024, when Kirk was identified through Forensic Genetic Genealogy. Kirk was born in Oklahoma and is known to have traveled through the above listed states.
Investigators are asking anyone with information regarding this case to come forward. Investigators also request anyone with information regarding Kirk’s life and whereabouts since 1968 to contact investigators to help fill in his life timeline for the investigation.
Remarks: Kirk was known to have traveled through Alabama, California, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Timeline of Events
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1989-09-03
Body discovered in chimney
Ronnie Joe Kirk was found deceased inside a chimney at the Good 'n Loud music store in Madison, Wisconsin
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:September 3, 1989
Last Updated:April 29, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:September 3, 1989
Last Updated:April 29, 2026