Among the creepiest solved missing person cases for me are the ones where people vanished because they got stuck or trapped and couldn’t get out. It gives me chills to imagine them spending hours feeling like days in agony, facing the grim realization of being totally helpless before dying. One haunting category of such cases is chimneys.
Joshua Maddux (18) disappeared in Woodland Park, Colorado, in 2008. Seven years later, his remains were discovered inside the chimney of an abandoned cabin over a kilometer from his home. His death was ruled accidental, with authorities suggesting he may have gotten stuck trying to slide down the chimney. However, odd details at the scene raised questions, for example, the fireplace being blocked internally, and Maddux’s folded clothes found nearby.
“Chimney Doe” was the name given to skeletal remains found in the chimney of a music store in Madison, Wisconsin, in September 1989. Thirty-five years later, in 2024, the unidentified person was confirmed to be Ronnie Joe Kirk through forensic genealogy. Yet, it still remains a mystery how, or why, he ended up there.
Joseph Schexnider disappeared in Louisiana in 1984. He was wanted for the possession of a stolen vehicle. His skeleton was discovered in the chimney of a bank during renovations in 2011. Death was likely due to dehydration and starvation, and foul play wasn’t suspected.
In 1977, Robert Thompson disappeared in Los Angeles. His remains were discovered in the chimney of an abandoned building in 2005, and foul play is strongly suspected.
There is something deeply disturbing about the idea of getting stuck somewhere. It feeds into the fear of claustrophobia. It feels far worse than dying instantly or facing a known danger… like slowly falling into a black hole. Continue reading
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