Cold Feet

Some scientists maintain that five feet could well wash ashore in the span of 10 months in the normal course of events. "I think it's a coincidence, absolutely. There's a multitude of sources in this oceanic environment region," says Richard Thomson, a physical oceanographer with the federal Institute of Ocean Sciences on Vancouver Island. "There's not a mystery to be solved." Thomson also offers a straightforward explanation for why all the feet are from the same side of the body, suggesting that right feet may be more firmly lodged in their shoes: "Since we're mostly right-handed, we tie up sneakers stronger on the right foot; the foot we kick with, push off with."

The Mounties, meanwhile, are exploring all possibilities-and remain cautious about offering ideas about a possible link between the finds. They've asked the public to be patient while forensic scientists extract DNA from the limbs and anthropologists look for clues in what flesh and bone remains. "It's a mystery," says Linteau, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. "We've certainly heard lots of theories -- from [sources interviewed in] the media, mostly."

Now authorities must begin the painstaking work of combing through missing persons reports to look for victims who might have disappeared at a time that would be consistent with the age of the found parts. In 2000, Linteau says, the police undertook a review of all missing persons cases in the country to acquire DNA where available. Investigators will also look for male victims, two with a sneaker size of 12 and one size 10. One of the bigger running shoes was a Reebok; the smaller one was an Adidas. Police haven't released information about the other shoes yet, but they did disclose that there are no tool markings on any of the feet, which means the parts probably came loose of their own accord. Carleton University biologist George Carmody says that scientists should be able to use DNA to determine whether the owners of the feet were biologically related, in addition to figuring out what race, age and gender their owners were.

But the police know that solving this riddle may take months. "It's extremely unique," says Constable Sharlene Brooks of the Delta Police Department in British Columbia, which has jurisdiction over the fifth foot but is working with investigators from other agencies for clues. "But just because there's a recovery of another foot doesn't mean they're automatically linked to the others. We can't get ahead of ourselves and start speculating. We need to establish identity; that way we can work our way back and determine what the circumstances are for this person's death, whether it's foul play or an accident or myriad other possibilities...we're running into the 'CSI' factor, where people expect us to be done in an hour or a day or two. But this could take quite some time."

© 2008