Since 2007 several cases have been found of running shoes washing ashore, but with footbones still in them.

Since 2007 several cases have been found of running shoes washing ashore, but with footbones still in them.
Photo Credit: via CBC news

Another dismembered foot washes up on west coast

mystery: human foot in running shoe: #13

It’s been a rather disturbing mystery to most.

Since 2007 several dismembered feet still laced in running shoes (trainers) have been found washed up on shores in and around the lower mainland of British Columbia, and Vancouver Island.

One of the running shoes that was found with the foot still inside. Since 2007, now 13 shoes have washed ashore in British Columbia.
One of the running shoes that has been found with the foot still inside. Since 2007 some 13 shoes with human remains have washed ashore in British Columbia. © BC coroner via CBC news

This month, another grisly discovery as a 13th foot was found inside a shoe near the city of Sooke on Vancouver Island.

There has been much speculation about what happened to the people whose feet are washing up on shores. These range from being victims of human trafficking, drug deals gone bad, victims of plane crashes, and so on.

The B.C. Coroners Service released this photo of a hiking boot that washed up on the shore of Sasamat Lake in 2011. It was later determined it belonged to a 65 year old man who disappeared while fishing in 1987. His overturned boat was found shortly after his disappearance
The B.C. Coroners Service released this photo of a hiking boot that washed up on the shore of Sasamat Lake in 2011. It was later determined it belonged to a 65 year old man who disappeared while fishing in 1987. His overturned boat was found shortly after his disappearance © BC Coroners Service

What is happening is that when a body is in water for a length of time it deteriorates and  eventually the joints detach. Many shoes in recent decades, especially running shoes, are buoyant so that when the ankles detach, they float to the surface with the socks and footbones still inside.

Currents and tides can then take them away, eventually to wash ashore some distance away.

The bones are analysed to determine DNA and any other identifiable marks like prievious breaks. The shoes are also researched to determine a likely time frame for the deah. This information is then cross-referenced to missing persons lists
The bones are analysed to determine DNA and any other identifiable marks like previous breaks. The shoes are also researched to determine a likely time frame for the death. This information is then cross-referenced to missing persons lists © via CBC

When police get the objects, they are sent to laboratories and analysed for DNA which is matched to DNA samples of missing people usually provided by relatives.

As for the feet found so far, police have matched most of them to several cases of likely suicides. By 2011, nine feet from seven people had been identified, five of whom had been identified.

Additional information – sources

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