The building at 5225 University Ave was built in the 1960s. The music store didn't move in until 1989. In the mid 80s, it was a Christian bookstore. Before that, it was a bakery, the Pastry Cart. I haven't found any info on its owners or renters prior to the bakery, but if I can get access to old phone books, something might turn up.
Identified! WI - Madison, WhtMale 18-35, 745UMWI, in chimney, fem clothing, German iron cross medallion, Sep'89 Ronnie Joe Kirk
- Thread starter Lady Stardust
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From the newspaper archives, there were a few more tidbits.
1948: his adoption was announced but no info on who adopted him
1959: the guardian of the estate of minor Ronnie Jo Kirk put his estate up for sale to the highest bidder; this one confused me.
1963: Angela L. Kirk files for divorce and child support from RJK; he would have been ~19 years old.
1948: his adoption was announced but no info on who adopted him
1959: the guardian of the estate of minor Ronnie Jo Kirk put his estate up for sale to the highest bidder; this one confused me.
1963: Angela L. Kirk files for divorce and child support from RJK; he would have been ~19 years old.
The 1957 article mentions that RJK was treated at the hospital for a fractured hip. That's a weird coincidence because the ME said his hip was broken at time of death. Maybe the old injury made his hip more vulnerable?
After 35 years of uncertainty, investigators ID skeleton found in Madison chimney
The skeletal remains found on Sept. 3, 1989 in the chimney of a Madison business belong to Ronnie Joe Kirk.www.wpr.org
(RBBM) “Police disclosed Monday that Kirk was married and divorced twice, and he fathered children. But they declined to share further details, adding that his family has asked for privacy.”
View attachment 503441
This photo, provided by his family, shows Ronnie Joe Kirk in the early 1960s. Photo courtesy of the Madison Police Department
1957 OK: Article clipped from Tulsa World
1970 WI: Article clipped from Wisconsin State Journal
lonewanderer
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I had posted this in a different chimney death thread, but chimney deaths are a little more common than one would think.
MA - MA - Dorchester, AdmixFem 25-35, UP11734, in apt bldg chimney, unique dental plate, Oct'05
Dorchester Jane Doe has been unidentified for 18 years today.
www.websleuths.com
IL - IL - Decades old adult male skeleton found at the base of industrial chimney in Chicago on May 10, 2014
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) UP12508 Date Body Found: May 10, 2014 Location Found: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Sex: Male Race / Ethnicity: Uncertain (White, possibly Black) Estimated Age Range (Years): 25-40 Estimated Year of Death: 1970-1990 Estimated PMI: 20...
www.websleuths.com
Dane Co Chimney Doe 1989 - DNA Doe Project
Description On September 3, 1989 the owners of the Good ‘n Loud Music store on University Avenue in Madison, Wisconsin, while removing a leaky boiler in the basement, saw a skull through a pipe connecting the boiler to the chimney. Further investigation by authorities revealed a complete human...
dnadoeproject.org
The strange death of Josh Maddux, the Boy in the Chimney — StrangeOutdoors.com
Joshua Vernon Maddux, disappeared May 8, 2008, Woodland Park, Colorado. Body Found August 7, 2015. Revised October 2023 On May 8, 2008, Joshua “Josh” Maddux, 18, left his parent’s house for a short walk nearby. He was a nature lover, so this was nothing unusual, but he was never seen alive again
www.strangeoutdoors.com
pokerowan
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I had posted this in a different chimney death thread, but chimney deaths are a little more common than one would think.
The strange death of Josh Maddux, the Boy in the Chimney — StrangeOutdoors.com
Joshua Vernon Maddux, disappeared May 8, 2008, Woodland Park, Colorado. Body Found August 7, 2015. Revised October 2023 On May 8, 2008, Joshua “Josh” Maddux, 18, left his parent’s house for a short walk nearby. He was a nature lover, so this was nothing unusual, but he was never seen alive again
I remember that writeup for the Josh Maddux case, what a sad and strange incident that was... The author of the Reddit post quoted in this article was very articulate IMO, and obviously upset with the verdict given on the situation. Some truly baffling events.
I agree. I wonder if the hairstyle they gave the clay model, the kind of "pageboy" look, was based on any evidence or if it was a product of the artist's imagination, because that hairstyle screams late 60s-early 70s to me.
summergirl1
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This article confirms that his last known contact with relatives was in 1970.
Although the above article says " about 19 years", an updated version of this article says 1970. Madison's 'Chimney Doe' finally has a name, after nearly 35 years
Although the above article says " about 19 years", an updated version of this article says 1970. Madison's 'Chimney Doe' finally has a name, after nearly 35 years
That's an excellent article.
To narrow down the approximate time of death, I'm curious if investigators sought the date of his last issued driver's license and when it was set to expire.
In 1970, he was accused of deserting his wife and child, per the Wisconsin State Journal. A court date was set in Madison, but Kirk never showed. This is "the most recent known record investigators have of him alive," per the outlet."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," Barnes said, per WMTV
breachtones
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If he died in 1970, that’d make him 28 years old. Honestly, I kinda think that’s what happened now. Begs the question of how the bakery owners or whoever was previous to them never noticed a decomposing body in their building, surely there’d be some odour?
iamshadow21
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I think it would depend on how it was sealed off. If the chimney was bricked up, it'd be a pretty effective tomb.
carbuff
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They may have noticed but been unable to locate the source. Chimneys draft upwards, so possibly the odor vented away from the area where people were.
Interesting his three kids did not know each other until the police contacted them last year
Madison police spokesperson Stephanie Fryer said Kirk’s last confirmed contact with relatives was in 1970, when he divorced his second wife in Missouri. Fryer said Kirk’s children, two from his first marriage and one from his second, are in their 50s and did not know each other until investigators contacted them
Madison police spokesperson Stephanie Fryer said Kirk’s last confirmed contact with relatives was in 1970, when he divorced his second wife in Missouri. Fryer said Kirk’s children, two from his first marriage and one from his second, are in their 50s and did not know each other until investigators contacted them
Another interesting fact I have not see before. I wonder if they know which if this factory was in Madison.
“The newspaper reported that 1970 divorce documents showed Kirk was a factory worker and had deserted his wife and child. He never appeared in court”
“The newspaper reported that 1970 divorce documents showed Kirk was a factory worker and had deserted his wife and child. He never appeared in court”
After over three decades, a skeleton found in a Madison chimney has been identified
The skeletal remains — along with clothing, a cross necklace and a butter knife — were found stuffed inside a Madison chimney in 1989.
eu.jsonline.com
Teignmouth 22
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IMO that's most likely, that it happened in or before 1970. I admit I am curious to know who was using the building before the bakery took over.
I'm in the process of re-reading the thread and the links as far as I am able (I'm in the UK) and the video linked in post #63, but meanwhile I've just looked on google maps and there are images of the music store in situ in 2007/2011 (it's gone by 2016). It seems like quite a low building and no obvious chimney unless it's obscured by the tree. I'm assuming this is the same building Ronnie was found in as opposed to a new building that was constructed after he was found.
I don't think he went into the chimney by choice.
Friday Fan
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This is how it looked in 1969. I believe the chimney was part of the boiler/furnace basement venting system.
It looks like retail/office space back then. May have been two buildings, but it's always been fairly small.
It's possible that there was a warehouse space behind this retail space.
Historic Aerials: Viewer
Teignmouth 22
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Thank you for finding this, much appreciated!This is how it looked in 1969. I believe the chimney was part of the boiler/furnace basement venting system.
It looks like retail/office space back then. May have been two buildings, but it's always been fairly small.
It's possible that there was a warehouse space behind this retail space.
Historic Aerials: Viewer
www.historicaerials.com
View attachment 504179
Susikatze
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If he died in 1970 or 1971, his outfit is just a regular Hippie long paisley shirt, along with the shaggy vest and trenchcoat. Not a womans dress, even though 1970s fashion was wild and provocative.
His shoes are very 1969/1970. He absolutely died in 1970 or 1971, the latest
His shoes are very 1969/1970. He absolutely died in 1970 or 1971, the latest
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Friday Fan
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You can try putting the address in the newspaper search. If it was retail, you may find an ad.
Phone books from the late 60's on up are hard to find.
Melquiades
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Yeah, feels like he was already dead at his divorce proceeding that he no-showed for.