According to the Wisconsin State Journal, the DNA Doe Project, a nonprofit organization that utilizes genealogy to identify unidentified individuals, recently revealed the identity of the bones as Ronnie Joe Kirk, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Authorities made multiple attempts to identify the remains of the individual, who was referred to as “Chimney Doe.”
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In late 2018, Detective Lindsey Ludden of the Madison Police took the initiative to bring the case to the DNA Doe Project. Fast forward to 2021, hair samples extracted from the skull were sent to Astrea Forensics, a specialized DNA sequencing company based in California, known for its expertise in handling degraded samples.
It took the DNA Doe Project over two years to create a DNA profile that could be used for genetic genealogy research, according to Gwen Knapp. This extensive process eventually led to the identification of the bones as belonging to Kirk, who was born in 1942, adopted, married twice, and had three children.
Knapp expressed her excitement about the unique nature of the adoption case and the presence of multiple generations from different marriages. Despite this complexity, the family was able to find a relatively close DNA relative match. She further stated that they were thrilled to be able to restore Ronnie Kirk’s name and hoped that his family would finally find some closure after his prolonged disappearance.
According to Madison police spokesperson Stephanie Fryer, Kirk’s most recent confirmed contact with his relatives occurred in 1970 when he divorced his second wife in Missouri. Fryer mentioned that Kirk’s children, who are now in their 50s, did not have any knowledge of each other until investigators reached out to them.
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes stated that Kirk’s family has requested privacy during this time. He did not provide any further details about Kirk’s relatives, except for mentioning that they expressed relief in finally learning the truth about his fate.
