Forensic tech helps PBSO crack 2003 cold case of 'Maritime John Doe' found off Boynton Inlet

Julius Whigham II, Palm Beach Post
Updated ·1 min read

BOYNTON BEACH — For two decades, the remains of a man whose body was found floating five miles east of the Boynton Inlet went unidentified, known only to local authorities as "Maritime John Doe."

But recent advancements in forensic technology have helped investigators finally solve the mystery, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said. Investigators this month identified the man as Donald H. Kirk.

According to a sheriff's report, a fisherman found Kirk's body floating in the Atlantic Ocean near the inlet on Sept. 7, 2003.

At the time, sheriff's investigators were unable to find a DNA match. However, investigators achieved a breakthrough through the use of new technology by Othram, a forensic genealogy laboratory based in The Woodlands, Texas, the sheriff's office said.

Artist's rendering of a man previously identified as Maritime John Doe, whose remains were found floating five miles east of the Boynton Beach Inlet on Sept. 7, 2003. The man was recently identified through forensic technology as Donald H. Kirk.
Artist's rendering of a man previously identified as Maritime John Doe, whose remains were found floating five miles east of the Boynton Beach Inlet on Sept. 7, 2003. The man was recently identified through forensic technology as Donald H. Kirk.

The lab was able to find at least one relative for Kirk, leading investigators to confirm his identity.

Investigators learned Kirk was born in Montana and had family in California. He was reported missing to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department on Sept. 15, 2003.

SUV breaks Mar-a-Lago checkpoints: PBSO deputies ruled justified in firing shots near Trump's home

Investigators learned Kirk had traveled to Fort Lauderdale in 2003 to board a gambling cruise ship, the sheriff's office said. They said Kirk at some point during the cruise chose to end his own life by jumping overboard.

Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: After 20 years, PBSO identifies man found dead near Boynton Inlet