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October 12, 2008 3:41:13 PM CDT

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Mysterious Human Feet Baffle Police

Posted Jun 25, 08 7:56 AM CDT in Crime & Courts,  World 

(Newser) – Police are struggling to explain a string of washed up human feet found on beaches along one 125-mile stretch of British Columbia. So far five of the grisly, sneaker-clad appendages have been found, and all are right feet. “It’s a mystery,” said one Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer. “We’ve certainly heard lots of theories - from the media mostly.”

Is a serial killer on the loose? It’s possible, though the feet show no tool marks, meaning they probably weren’t severed. Sneakered feet decompose slowly, and so sometimes wash ashore from bygone accidents. For now, police are checking the DNA of missing persons for matches. “We need to establish identity,” said one policewoman. “We can’t get ahead of ourselves and start speculating.”

Source Newsweek

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  • Sixth Foot to Wash Ashore Is a Hoax

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    Sixth Foot to Wash Ashore Is a Hoax The latest severed foot to wash ashore in Canada is a hoax, the Toronto Globe and Mail reports. The sneaker found this week near Vancouver actually contained an animal paw stuffed into a sock, authorities say. An official described the prank as “reprehensible and very disrespectful to the families of missing persons.” That leaves at five the number of feet that have washed up in the last year, fueling fears of a serial killer in British Columbia. More »

The families of missing persons have been hoping the shoes can bring closure.   (Shutterstock)
Sneakered feet sometimes wash ashore, because sneakers cause the feet to resist decay.   (Shutterstock)
Some pranksters have even been throwing shoes into the water with chickenbones inside, just to rile up the police.   (Shutterstock)
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Canada  • missing person  • DNA evidence  • mystery  • British Columbia  • feet  • severed feet  • unsolved mystery


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