Was The Salish Sea Feet Mystery Solved? The Real Reason Why 20 Body Parts Washed Up Ashore

Was the Salish Feet mystery solved?

Technically yes, there have been scientific explanations as to why the feet and shoes were found on the Salish Sea. However, each motive for why they were found varies.

“Feet easily disarticulate and when they are attached to a flotation device such as a running shoe, they are easily washed ashore,” wrote Gail Anderson, co-director of the Center for Forensic Research at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, in an email to Vox. “Notice there are no feet washing ashore in stiletto heels or flip-flops. Also, today’s running shoes are much more buoyant than in the past.” As to why they haven’t been eaten by sea creatures, “[A]rthropods will skeletonize and disarticulate a body quite quickly depending on oceanic conditions.”

“Things that float at the ocean surface move with the currents, but also are pushed a bit by the wind, and this can be significant in getting them to shore,”  Parker MacCready, an oceanography professor at the University of Washington wrote in an email to the outlet. “The prevailing winds here [around the Salish Sea] are west to east, and so floating stuff in this part of the Pacific gets blown to the coast effectively.”

How many feet were found in the Salish Sea?

There have been at least 20 feet found around the Salish Sea since 2007. Half of the feet have been identified.

• August 20, 2007—size 12 Adidas shoe in Jedidiah Island, B.C.
• August 26, 2007—size 12 Reebok shoe in Gabriola Island, B.C.
• February 8, 2008—size 11 Nike shoe in Valdes Island, B.C.
• February 22, 2008—New Balance shoe in Kirkland Island, B.C.
• June 19, 2008—left foot in Westham Islhand, B.C.
• August 1, 2008—size 11 black shoe near Pysht, Washington
• November 11, 2008—small New Balance shoe in Richmond, B.C
• October 27, 2009—size 8 1/2 Nike shoe in Richmond, B.C.
• August 27, 2010—woman or child shoe in Whidbey Island, Washington
• December 5, 2010—hiking boot in Tacoma, Washington
• August 30, 2011—size 9 men’s white and blue shoe in False Creek, B.C.
• November 4, 2011—size 12 hiking boot in Sasamat Lake, B.C.
• December 10, 2011—leg and bone in black plastic bag in Seattle, Washington
• January 26, 2012—Boot in Vancouver, B.C.
• May 6, 2014—New Balance shoe in Seattle, Washington
• February 7, 2016—Running shoe in Vancouver Island, B.C.
• February 12, 2016—Foot in Vancouver Island, B.C.
• December 8, 2017—Leg with shoe in Vancouver Island, B.C.
• May 6, 2018—Leg in hiking boot in Gabriola Island, B.C.
• September 2018—Nike Free RN shoe near West Vancouver, B.C.
• January 1, 2019—Foot found in boot near Everett, Washington identified as Antonio Neill
• November 21, 2021—size 7 Brahma work boot in Bellingham, Washington
• December 2021—size 8 New Balance shoe in Port Angeles, Washington identified as Jerilyn L. Smith
• July 23, 2023—no details of foot but found in Gonzales Beach, Victoria B.C.

Theory: Serial Killers

Though there have been many theories that there is a serial killer who severs feet on the loose, however the Royal Canadian Mount Police confirmed that they were all accidental deaths or suicide.

“The BC [British Columbia] Coroners Service has been able to identify eight of the previous 12 feet, belonging to six individuals,” the agency said in a statement. “In none of the cases was any foul play involved.”

When news first emerged, many netizens believed that there was a group of people who were planning these killings. Files of The Unexplained showcased Antonio Neill whose foot and Timberland boot were found on the shore and his friends were suspected of killing him. There was no evidence of foul play, however it didn’t rule it out. Because of the mysterious circumstances, the case is still open.

Theory: Sea Serpents

Some Indigineous and First Nation people of the area believe that Sea Serpents still exist today at the Salish Sea. In the show, it’s reported that there were 235 alleged sightings.

John Kirk, a retired Canadian Mount Policeman, explained that the sea monster Haitelik was inscribed in art and canoes. It also goes by the name of Cadborosaurus and has a long and large serpentine body.