FL FL - “Maritime John Doe", Wht, 65-75, maritime tattoo, Atlantic Ocean, Sep'03 - Donald H. Kirk

[apearn]

How long has that death record existed?

I don't know. I didn't see any kind of entry date.

 

[DS2021]

I don't know. I didn't see any kind of entry date.

Im assuming its from before they identified him this year, right

 

[apearn]

Im assuming its from before they identified him this year, right

I assumed it was done this year as part of wrapping up his case but I don't know of a way to verify.

 

[DS2021]

I assumed it was done this year as part of wrapping up his case but I don't know of a way to verify.

Claim date is October 2003. He was likely declared dead way back then

NARA - AAD - Display Full Records - Death Files, 1936 - 2007 (Last Names K through L)

aad.archives.gov

 

[DS2021]

Why was he never put in NamUs. The ball was dropped

 

[GatorFL]

Why was he never put in NamUs. The ball was dropped

He was in NamUs. See post #4 of this thread. They're pretty quick close the profile after an ID.

Here is his Namus profile:The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Case Numbers
NCMEC Number--
ME/C Case Number2003-00977
Demographics
SexMale
Race / EthnicityWhite / Caucasian
Possible First Name--
Possible Middle Name--
Possible Last Name--
Possible Nickname--
Estimated Age GroupAdult - Pre 80
Estimated Age Range (Years)65-75
Estimated Year of Death0-2003
Estimated PMI--
Height6' 1"(73 inches) , Estimated
Weight176 lbs, Estimated
Circumstances
TypeUnidentified Deceased
Date FoundSeptember 7, 2003
NamUs Case CreatedApril 7, 2008
ME/C QA Reviewed--
Location Found Map
Street Address5 miles east of the Boynton InletBoynton Beach, Florida
CountyPalm Beach County
GPS Coordinates--
Circumstances of RecoveryThe victim was located floating face down in a weed line approx. 5 miles east of the Boynton Inlet and 3 miles north, in Boynton Beach, Florida.
Details of Recovery


Inventory of Remains--
Condition of RemainsRecognizable face
Physical Description
Hair ColorRed/Auburn
Head Hair Descriptionbrown at the scalp
Body Hair Description--
Facial Hair Description--
Left Eye ColorHazel
Right Eye ColorHazel
Eye Description--
Distinctive Physical Features
Item
Description
Scar/mark
12 inch scar on the center of his stomach and back. To the left of the scar on his stomach was another 3 inch scar. 12 inch scar on his left shoulder blade. 1 in scar on neck. 9 in scar on abdomen. "zipper" 6 in scar on lumbar region

Tattoo
Old tattoo which appears to be an anchor or some type of Navy tattoo


Clothing and Accessories
Item
Description
Accessories. back brace. Near the Body

Clothing
White t-shirt, white polo shirt with black and brown pinstripes on the border of the sleeves and neckline, khaki pants and brown socks
On the Body

 

[DS2021]

He was in NamUs. See post #4 of this thread. They're pretty quick close the profile after an ID.

I was referring to Donald. They declared him dead in 2003, theres no reason that he shouldnt have been added to NamUs at some point over the years.

 

[DS2021]

Claim date is October 2003. He was likely declared dead way back then

*cycle date

The Cycle Date for his death record in Numident is 10/18/2003

NUMIDENT refers to the Social Security Administration's Numerical Identification System file.

Cycle date is the Date when the record was posted on the NUMIDENT.

 

[MagicCityMan]

*cycle date

The Cycle Date for his death record in Numident is 10/18/2003

NUMIDENT refers to the Social Security Administration's Numerical Identification System file.

Cycle date is the Date when the record was posted on the NUMIDENT.

So if I am understanding this correctly, he was officially declared dead in October 2003? Of course we now know that he was in fact dead by then but how on earth could he have been officially declared dead that soon? I have read about a lot of missing people who are not able to be declared deceased until around 7 years after last contact.
Am I missing something?

 

[summergirl1]

I suppose the fact he went missing on a boat and didn't show up when it docked, was proof enough he went overboard. And/or perhaps he left a suicide note or there was strong circumstantial evidence he killed himself, in regards to his life, etc. I found a 1973 divorce record from his
ex-wife who died earlier in 2003, and I don't believe they remarried, although I didn't look into it, so that had had nothing to do with his death, I wouldn't think, unless they remained close friends. I didn't see anything indicating he ever remarried.

Possibly he did lose a lot of money on the boat or had a gambling issue in general, or maybe he had health issues that were getting him down and possibly could be terminal (he isn't known to have had anything that would absolutely have been terminal) or close. Health issues was my first thought at his age (also the back brace), maybe he needed a risky surgery or something.

 

[branmuffin]

I'm glad Donald Kirk was identified. He should have been identified withing weeks of his body's discovery. I just hope all the authorities that failed to make a connection to a missing man, a man overboard on a gambling casino boat in the general vicinity don't wait as long to remove the images that are still available online regarding the PM images of his recovery from the ocean. It should be SOP to remove those images from public viewing after a confirmation of identity has been made.

 

[branmuffin]

I'm glad Donald Kirk was identified. He should have been identified withing weeks of his body's discovery. I just hope all the authorities that failed to make a connection to a missing man, a man overboard on a gambling casino boat in the general vicinity don't wait as long to remove the images that are still available online regarding the PM images of his recovery from the ocean. It should be SOP to remove those images from public viewing after a confirmation of identity has been made.

I sent them an email to the name attached to the Case number to remove the images to avoid further distressing the family. It's been a month today he was identified. If it doesn't go down in the next week can someone else send them a message too? Thanks. I can't imagine seeing images like that of my grandfather regardless whether he was a murder victim or a victim of circumstance.

Here's the link to the Sheriff's Office regarding this case:

Case 05-056017 - Maritime John Doe - Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office

www.pbso.org

 

[branmuffin]

The PM pictures of Donald Kirk are still up on the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office. Can someone who lives in the US call them to ask them to remove the images? Now that he's been identified I see no reason why these images are still open for public viewing.

 

[GatorFL]

The PM pictures of Donald Kirk are still up on the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office. Can someone who lives in the US call them to ask them to remove the images? Now that he's been identified I see no reason why these images are still open for public viewing.

I think the social media folks are either reassigned or gone from PBSO. I'll call someone I know to see if something can be done. However, since FL has the Sunshine Laws, I don't see this being very high priority since it's technically not against any rules.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

After reading this whole case this morning, I am also baffled at the inability to make his identity known--20 years ago.
And, I am still having trouble with the assumption that this was suicide...

oh well... a solved cold case, but as we know some of the solved cases stick around longer than others...

 

[summergirl1]

I think if the investigators felt it was suicide, they must have had good reason to rule it as such. That's my feeling about this particular case, anyway. I've read of other cases where the cause of death was described merely as "drowning" and felt, in my opinion, that there was more or possibly more to the death than that, but then again, the general public doesn't always have all the info on some of these cases. So I never posted anything about what I thought.

I thought possibly the investigators in those cases may have thought there was more to the death too, but could never prove it or thought it was too speculative ( what led to the "drowning"?), so left it officially as the most obvious thing. I forget what cases those were now, except maybe one. So I've had the same feeling reading about other cases, but not this one, for whatever reason. I do understand your line of thought, though.

I don't believe Donald had any descendents, but I'm uncertain. Still, those images should be taken down now. He was interestingly enough from California, so possibly was on vacation in Florida, or very newly moved there when this happened as the records on him state his official last residence as California. That surprised me as it's nowhere near Florida and is also a coastal state, if you were planning a suicide in connection with water.

 

[branmuffin]

I think the social media folks are either reassigned or gone from PBSO. I'll call someone I know to see if something can be done. However, since FL has the Sunshine Laws, I don't see this being very high priority since it's technically not against any rules.

I know it's not against the rules but there's really no need to keep the images up since he's been identified. I think it's an oversight because they are probably overworked.

I remember when the internet got really popular there were tons of horrible images online that had been publicly released about post mortem injuries, etc. It's impossible to find them now thankfully because it was a cruel invasion of privacy for the deceased and their families. Historical images are one thing but contemporary images are another thing all together.

Thank you for bringing it to their attention.