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Sixth floating foot a hoax
Friday, June 20, 2008 | No comments posted.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The coroner’s office called the discovery of a sixth floating foot a hoax, saying Thursday it was really an animal paw stuffed inside a running shoe.
Initially, Wednesday’s find deepened a mystery surrounding the feet, all of which were recovered within the past year floating within a few miles of each other along island shorelines in the Strait of Georgia near Vancouver.
But the sixth discovery was determined a hoax after coroner’s officials determined that it was the skeletal remains of an animal’s foot.
“Whoever is responsible for this took the time to ensure that the remains were set up to closely resemble human remains,” said Brendan FitzPatrick, an inspector with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
He warned that any hoaxer could face charges, saying the fact someone would go to such lengths is disturbing.
The first three feet washed ashore about 40 miles southwest of Vancouver on islands in the Strait of Georgia. The first foot was discovered last summer by beachcombers. Days later, a foot was found inside a man’s Reebok sneaker. The remains of a third right foot were found Feb. 8.
The fourth foot was found May 22 on Kirkland Island in the Fraser River, about 15 miles south of Vancouver. About a mile away, the fifth foot — and the only left foot, was discovered Monday morning floating in water off Westham Island.
Police have said that there’s no evidence the feet were severed or removed from the victims’ legs by force.
Curtis Ebbesmeyer, an oceanographer based in Seattle, Wash., has said when a human body is submerged in the ocean, the main parts like arms, legs, hands, feet and the head are usually what come off the body.
He said his theory is that the feet came along as a result of an accident that might have happened up along the Fraser River, that washed down and spread out along the Straight of Georgia.
Ebbesmeyer said when the third foot was found the feet could have drifted from as far as 1,000 miles away. Ebbesmeyer said the feet could have been severed or detached from their bodies on their own.
Initially, Wednesday’s find deepened a mystery surrounding the feet, all of which were recovered within the past year floating within a few miles of each other along island shorelines in the Strait of Georgia near Vancouver.
But the sixth discovery was determined a hoax after coroner’s officials determined that it was the skeletal remains of an animal’s foot.
“Whoever is responsible for this took the time to ensure that the remains were set up to closely resemble human remains,” said Brendan FitzPatrick, an inspector with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
He warned that any hoaxer could face charges, saying the fact someone would go to such lengths is disturbing.
The first three feet washed ashore about 40 miles southwest of Vancouver on islands in the Strait of Georgia. The first foot was discovered last summer by beachcombers. Days later, a foot was found inside a man’s Reebok sneaker. The remains of a third right foot were found Feb. 8.
The fourth foot was found May 22 on Kirkland Island in the Fraser River, about 15 miles south of Vancouver. About a mile away, the fifth foot — and the only left foot, was discovered Monday morning floating in water off Westham Island.
Police have said that there’s no evidence the feet were severed or removed from the victims’ legs by force.
Curtis Ebbesmeyer, an oceanographer based in Seattle, Wash., has said when a human body is submerged in the ocean, the main parts like arms, legs, hands, feet and the head are usually what come off the body.
He said his theory is that the feet came along as a result of an accident that might have happened up along the Fraser River, that washed down and spread out along the Straight of Georgia.
Ebbesmeyer said when the third foot was found the feet could have drifted from as far as 1,000 miles away. Ebbesmeyer said the feet could have been severed or detached from their bodies on their own.
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