VANCOUVER - DNA testing shows a female foot discovered on the B.C. coastline last month matches another one discovered in May, 2008.
DNA analysis was used to match the remains of a right foot found May 22 on Kirkland Island, near Richmond and Delta, with the remains of a left foot found Nov. 11 in Richmond on Finn Slough, the B.C. Coroners Service said
Both feet were encased in New Balance runners and were among six feet that have been found along the West Coast since August, 2007.
The investigation to determine the identity of this pair of feet, as well as a pair of male feet matched on July 10 and a remaining right foot, is ongoing, the Coroner's Service said.
"In all cases, these remains appear to have naturally separated (disarticulated) from the body," the Coroners Service said in a news release issued Friday.
"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."
The Coroners Service says water temperature, decomposition and predatation from marine life contribute to disarticulation and a number of variables make it difficult to determine just how long remains have been in the water.
The Coroners Service uses physical characteristics and DNA analysis of the feet to establish a profile.
Those profiles are maintained in a provincial database for future comparisons.
The latest foot discovered was found by a couple walking their dogs along the banks of the Fraser River.
The first foot, a male's right foot, was located on Jedidiah Island near Parksville on Aug. 20, 2007.
The man's identity has been confirmed but has not been released at his family's request.
The second foot, a right male Reebok running shoe, was found Aug. 26, 2007 on Gabriola Island near Nanaimo and has not yet been identified.
The third foot, discovered Feb. 8 on Valdez Island near Gabriola, has been matched to the fifth foot, found June 16 on Westham Island near Kirkham Island.
