The person at the center of this case
Ronnie Joe Kirk
Homicide · Open
37 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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evidence
Lead #1How did Kirk's body come to be inside the chimney, and what was the cause of death?
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timeline
Lead #2What were Kirk's movements and whereabouts between 1968 and September 1989?
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person
Lead #3Who did Kirk associate with during his travels through Alabama, California, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin?
Ronnie Joe Kirk was discovered dead in 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 his death and how he came to be in the chimney remain unclear, leaving investigators seeking details about his movements and associations. Anyone with information about Kirk's life, travels, or whereabouts between 1968 and 1989 is urged to contact authorities to help reconstruct his timeline and identify potential leads.
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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.
👁️
witness
Lead #4Did anyone see Kirk at or near the Good 'n Loud music store in the days or weeks before his discovery?
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:September 10, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:September 3, 1989
Last Updated:September 10, 2026