No evidence 5 feet were severed, say B.C. RCMP

The five feet found on shorelines of the South Coast of B.C. over the past year show no signs they were severed from bodies using tools or by trauma, according to information released by the RCMP Thursday morning in Vancouver.

There's no evidence the feet became separated by anything other than decomposition, said RCMP officials.

All the feet were found in athletic shoes, the specifics of which were released by the RCMP for the first time on Thursday.

RCMP are now attempting to match the feet with missing persons files using DNA. So far they have eliminated 132 of 243 possible male matches, said RCMP.

Using DNA analysis, the B.C. Coroners Service has determined that the right foot found on February 2008 on Valdes Island and the remains of a left foot found in June 2008 on Westham Island are from the same male.

As well, the BCCS said the right foot found on Kirkland Island in May 2008 is from a female. DNA profiles are also complete for the right male feet found on Jedediah Island and Gabriola Island.

DNA testing cannot determine race or age based on the feet, said officials.

Studies of local currents indicate the feet likely came from the southern portion of the Strait of Georgia, which separates the Lower Mainland from Vancouver Island.

RCMP said they have not yet ruled out a popular theory that the feet might have come from people on a plane that crashed in the Strait of Georgia near Quadra Island three years ago.

RCMP released the following details about the shoes and feet:

The first foot was located on Aug. 20, 2007, on Jedediah Island. The shoe is a Campus brand running shoe, primarily white with blue mesh and is believed to be a size 12. It was determined that it was produced in 2003 and distributed primarily in India.
The second foot was located Aug. 26, 2007, on Gabriola Island in a men's white Reebok running shoe, size 12. It was produced in 2004 and distributed globally, but mostly in North America. It was first available on March 1, 2004, and is no longer sold.
The third foot was located on Feb. 2, 2008, inside a men's blue and white Nike running shoe, size 11. It was produced in 2003 and sold in Canada and the United States from Feb. 1 to June 30, 2003.
The fourth foot was located on May 22, 2008, on Kirkland Island. It is a women's blue and white New Balance running shoe, size 7. It was produced in June 1999 and distributed through major retail stores.
The fifth foot was located on Westham Island on June 16, 2008, and matches the third foot and shoe.

DNA analysis can show a remarkable amount of information that the coroner's office have not tested for. Ydna will show the "male dna" passed indefinitely from father to sons with very minor mutations. A large number of makers matching eg, 90 plus would show a father son probable relationship and there are several well known databases where Male and Female DNA can be compared and odds are a large number of "distant cousins" with a "common ancestor" going back 500 odd years will be found rather quickly.
Frequently, those distant modern present day cousins with a common ancestor share features in common. Female DNA does not mutate as quickly and is less reliable and therefore less likely to determine close relationships.
The basic male Ydna and basic Female MtDna will show racial lines. Male samples also show the male's Mother's Mtdna which means a male sample can provide a large amount of information that will almost immediately provide a lot of information that will provide clear directions for investigators. without the "Ydna" and "Mtdna" the investigation will suffer needless prejudice and further delays into the investigations that may turn out to have very innocent causes. www.OttawaMensCentre.com

No evidence 5 feet were severed, say B.C. RCMP

Police release detailed descriptions of shoes

Thursday, July 10, 2008 | 2:28 PM ET