Feet That Washed Ashore Matched

By 250 News

BURNABY - Through DNA analysis, the BC Coroners Service has confirmed remains of a right foot found on May 22, 2008, on Kirkland Island, and the remains of a left foot found on Nov. 11, 2008, in Richmond on
Finn Slough, are from the same female.

Investigations by the RCMP, Delta Police Department and the Coroners Service to determine the identities, for this pair, the pair of male feet matched on July 10 and a remaining right foot, are ongoing. An I.D. was confirmed on the right foot found on Aug. 20, 2007 at Jedediah Island near Parksville but was withheld at the request of the family. A total of six feet have been found since August 2007.

In all cases, these remains appear to have naturally separated (disarticulated) from the body. There is no forensic evidence at this time to support anything other than disarticulation as there are no tool or trauma marks on the remains. Factors that contribute to disarticulation include water temperature, decomposition and predation from marine life. Due to a variety of variables it is very difficult to determine how long remains may have been in water.

The Coroners Service uses information on physical characteristics from exams by forensic pathologists and anthropologists, along with DNA analysis of the feet in order to build the most enhanced profile possible for each. Found remains profiles are maintained in a provincial database for future comparisons until identifications are
determined.

No further information is available from the Coroners Service at this time.

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