BC feet still a mystery, despite clues revealed

The B.C. Coroners Service used DNA analysis to confirm that the foot found Feb. 8 on Valdes Island and the foot found June 16 on Westham Island — on opposite sides of Georgia Strait — were from the same unidentified man.

As well, the fourth foot, found May 22 on Kirkham Island in the Fraser River, belonged to a woman. The DNA profile for that foot has not yet been completed.

“It’s very difficult to determine how long the remains may have been in the water,” said coroner Jeff Dolan at a press conference yesterday at which the RCMP, Delta Police and the B.C. Coroners Service unveiled part of their investigation.

In less than a year, five feet, still in sneakers, have washed up on B.C. shores. The mystery has sparked headlines worldwide and has even been the subject of jokes on late-night talk shows.

Yesterday police displayed photos of the shoes publicly for the first time in hopes that family members of missing people may recognize them.

Dolan said in all five cases the feet were not severed, but have naturally separated, or disarticulated, from their bodies.

“There is no forensic evidence to support anything other than disarticulation,” Dolan said. “There are no tool marks or trauma on any of the remains.”

Factors that contribute to disarticulation, he added, include water temperature, decomposition and predation by marine life.

RCMP Const. Annie Linteau said investigators have examined all relevant missing persons cases and come up with a list of more than 240 men who the feet may belong to, so far eliminating 130 of those cases. As for the fourth foot, police are looking at a list of 159 missing women.

Police also revealed the brands of the shoes - one of which isn’t available in North America - and the dates they were available for purchase, in the hope that such details might narrow the search down.