“Authorities Reopen Decades-Old Case: Kraig King’s Unsolved Death Seeks Fresh Leads”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Authorities have reopened a decades-old case in Barron County, Wisconsin, as they seek new leads in the long-unsolved death of Kraig King. The case dates back to September 21st, 1982, when loggers working near Highway 25 in Ridgeland made a chilling discovery.

While assessing the situation and determining the boundaries of the private property, one of the loggers stumbled upon a small mound of clothes about one hundred yards from the tree line. The loggers, intrigued by this unusual sight in an otherwise deserted area, cautiously approached the clothing.

To their horror, they realized that it wasn’t just a pile of clothes. Inside the mound, they found a skeleton, with the skull several feet away. Immediately, they rushed back to their vans and called the Barron County Sheriff’s Department, who then contacted the medical examiner.

Once the remains were located and photographed, they were sent to the medical examiner’s office for further investigation. The bones were carefully examined and categorized, leading the medical examiner and local forensic anthropologist to conclude that the remains belonged to a white male aged eighteen to twenty-four, with brown hair. He was estimated to be between 5’7″ and 5’9″ tall, weighing between 180 and 195 lbs.

The man’s remains were completely skeletal, indicating that he had been exposed to the elements since April or May of that year, or possibly even earlier. Disturbingly, the medical examiner discovered three puncture wounds to the man’s chest, which had left marks on his thoracic vertebra. The violent nature of his death raised questions about whether he had been killed in the woods or if his body had been dumped there.

With limited evidence to work with, investigators turned their attention to the man’s clothing. He was found wearing blue Sears brand jeans with a waist size of thirty-eight, a long-sleeved cotton plaid shirt with pearl buttons, a denim jacket, white “Maverick” brand underwear, white athletic socks with blue trim, and size ten blue tennis shoes with white stripes. Cut marks on the man’s shirt and jacket corresponded to the areas where he had been stabbed.

Unfortunately, the clothing did not provide any clues or labels that could help identify him. However, the investigation took an interesting turn when it was discovered that the man had undergone left knee surgery, with a screw and staple inserted in his tibia. The serial numbers on these medical devices could not be traced back to a specific hospital, but it was clear that the procedure required a sophisticated facility and an extended recovery period of six months to a year. This suggested that the man came from a comfortable, middle-class, or affluent background.

Despite extensive searches in dental and hospital records, no one came forward to claim the man’s identity. Consequently, he became known as the Barron County John Doe. The amount of medical information available in the case led investigators to believe that it wouldn’t remain unsolved for long, but they were proven wrong as the case remained open for thirty-eight years.

In 2019, the Barron County Sheriff’s Office sought the assistance of the DNA Doe Project, a non-profit organization specializing in unidentified remains. By December of that year, the project had successfully identified the victim. Subsequently, the sheriff’s office obtained DNA samples from the victim’s family to confirm the match.

In early 2020, the Barron County Sheriff’s Office finally announced that the 1982 Barron County John Doe was Kraig Patrick King. At the time of his death, Kraig would have been 20 or 21 years old. Born in 1961 in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, he graduated from White Bear Lake High School in 1979.

According to Kraig’s parents, they last saw him in White Bear Lake in 1981. Kraig had a history of mental illness, and during their last meeting, he was carrying a substantial amount of cash. It remains unclear how Kraig ended up in Barron County, as he did not own a car.

Kraig was described as a well-liked young adult who excelled in school and sports. He played hockey and golf, demonstrating his athleticism and academic prowess. His father believes that Kraig may have unknowingly interacted with the wrong people, as no one who knew Kraig could think of anyone who would want to harm him.

Despite reporting him missing, it is unclear why Kraig’s missing person’s case was not connected to the body discovered in 1982. The resolution of Kraig’s identity brings some relief to his family, but the manner of his death continues to cause them immense pain. They are now appealing to anyone with information about the case to come forward and contact the Barron County Sheriff’s Office.

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