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Canadian floating feet mystery deepens
For the 11th time in the past four years, a human foot in a sport shoe was found on a Pacific Northwest shoreline.
Foot No. 11 was found Tuesday near a marina in an inlet called False Creek, police in Vancouver, British Columbia, said. Foul play was not suspected because there was no sign of trauma, coroner Stephen Fonseca said in a report from CNN affiliate CBC.
“These human remains did not show any evidence of trauma whatsoever,” CBC quoted Fonseca as saying.
DNA samples from foot No. 11 will be compared to DNA obtained from family members in missing persons cases to try to establish an identity, he said.
So who do the feet belong to and how did they meet their demise?
One foot, found in August 2007 on Jedediah Island, British Columbia, was identified as coming from a deceased man whose family did not want further details released, according to a report in the Vancouver Sun.
But the rest remain a mystery, according to a list in the Vancouver Sun.
Mark Mendelson, a Toronto forensics consultant and former police detective, said on the TV program "Canada AM" on Thursday that he's not buying that anything nefarious is, well, afoot.
"You have to think dirty," he said.
"I don't know if you can look at this as just a coincidence," he said, pointing out that he thinks there are too many questions that don't have logical answers.
"Why is it only happening on the west coast near Vancouver… why aren’t these feet floating up off Nova Scotia or St. John’s, Newfoundland, or off the coast of New Jersey," Mendelson asked.
And why only feet in running shoes?
Where are the rest of the body parts?
“Body parts do eventually make their way to the surface. So why are we only getting feet? Why are they in running shoes,” he asked.
Simon Fraser University forensics researcher Gail Anderson offers answers in a report on the website vancouver.24hrs.ca.
“We have an awful lot of people missing in our waters, either from accidental cases or people who deliberately entered the water,” the website quotes Anderson as saying. “We’re talking four years and 11 feet. That’s really not that many at all.”
And if the shoe floats?
University of British Columbia materials engineering professor Anoush Poursartip tells vancouver.24hrs he has a theory on that.
“The polymers used in running shoes are chosen partially for their light weight. This means the shoe has significant buoyancy,” he told the website.
So the shoes are dragging the feet to the surface but leaving the rest of the body in the depths?
“I’m not sure I buy the theory it’s because the shoe floats,” Mendelson said in the "Canada AM" interview.
But one thing is certain, Mendelson said.
"Something is very, very strange here.”
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"no sign of trauma".... not sure about you, but I find a disembodied foot pretty traumatic.
This happens in Indian Provinces too. I think some indian is killing people in Canada.
no sign of trauma means they appear to have separated from the body naturally through the process of decomposition. There is no sign that they were forcibly removed from the rest of the body. (like no cut marks)
The fact that 11 people or bodies are missing their feet encased in a running shoe is pretty significant to me. I would consider it highly tramtic if I awoke and found my foot missing it with my shoe also. But I would check out the cadavers that are being used in the medical courses at any college...you never know these days.
>>"Why is it only happening on the west coast near Vancouver… why aren’t these feet floating up off Nova Scotia or St. John’s, Newfoundland, or off the coast of New Jersey," Mendelson asked.<<
New Jersey probably has feet, too, but nobody asks questions.
The pollution off the coast of NJ could probably take a body down to the bone quicker than a school of piranha. Athletic shoes too.
it's because vancouver has an 11 foot tide.
"These human remains did not show any evidence of trauma whatsoever,” "Here we have a cut-off foot with no signs of trauma" says the all-knowing Doc. How does that work anyway? This coroner should stop sniffing the formaldehyde.
This is why we leave the thinking to professionals... can you comprehend what "no signs of trauma means"?
No, not what it means to you... what it actually means.
No where was it said that the foot was cut off... meaning.... keep trying.... there is no physical evidence on the foot itself that suggests trauma... almost got it?.... the body decomposed and the foot detached, which wouldn't leave signs of trauma on the foot... which also doesn't tell you how the person died or whether foul play was involved.
Congratulations to all of you who arrived at the conclusion foul play is involved...
unfortunately when you are a professional and this is what you do for a living, you can't simply write in a report or state to the public "gut feelings" or things you can't prove.
My best guess is they're the remains of "boat people": illegal immigrants from Asia who have met with foul play or whose vessels have sunk during their overseas voyages.
Yes, good deduction, given the demo of the Vancouver area. Family doesn't want further details released? Reasons of privacy, perhaps, or a tie to Asian human trafficking, whether a consumer or a supplier, as you describe.
I am just curious. Aren,t there any missing people reports that they can maybe correlate these feet with? Just a thought.
It happens when runners in the farming communities near Vancouver do the Hokey Pokey around harvesting machinery.
"You put your right foot in..." *CHOMP*
End of story.
Something is afoot here.....
Ahh, the agony of de-feet......
Satanic groups toed them somewhere, then took their very soles. Only they are capable of that kind of a feet. Agggggggh!
Ooh get george lucas on the phone! "Indiana Jones and the Floating Feet."
At least it's safe to go diving now – the water's up to 11 feet.
We have had quite a few feet wash up in Oregon and Washington too. I find the Canadian story 15% less interesting.
Some medical students are probably having some fun with cadaver feet.
11' in four years ? the tectonic plates are speeding up ! better notify the USGS !