The world of forensic science is constantly evolving, with researchers discovering new ways to extract valuable information from the deceased. However, one particularly strange case is pushing the limits of even the most advanced forensic techniques. In Western Canada, a grisly discovery has been washing up on shores: human feet.
In 2007, a 12-year-old girl was walking along the beach on Jedediah Island in British Columbia when she stumbled upon a man’s sneaker. Out of curiosity, she looked inside and found the remains of a human foot. Six days later, and 30 miles away on Gabriola Island, a couple made a similar discovery: another human foot. The two feet did not match, and both were right feet.
Five months later, on nearby Valdes Island, forest workers found a third shoe, also belonging to a man and containing a decomposing right foot. Nine months after the initial discovery, a caretaker on Kirkland Island found a woman’s right shoe with a decomposing foot inside.
The mystery of the disembodied feet has left investigators with little to go on. How do you solve a puzzle with only one piece? The challenge of this case highlights the importance of forensic science in solving even the most bizarre and seemingly unsolvable cases.