No match found for foot on Greenbank beach
By JESSIE STENSLAND
Whidbey News Times Assistant editor
March 29, 2011 · Updated 3:21 PM
A human foot that was found on a beach in Greenbank last August remains a mystery despite DNA analysis and a database search.
Detective Ed Wallace with the Island County Sheriff’s Office said the University of North Texas, which runs the Center for Human Identification, completed the DNA profiling of the foot and then ran it through the CODIS database. But no matches were found.
The lab specifically looked for comparisons with Shatina Smiley and Kara Radabah, two high-profile missing people from the Puget Sound region. But again, nothing matched.
Wallace said the DNA profile was sent to investigators in British Columbia, where 10 detached human feet have been discovered on beaches over the last four years. Unfortunately, a comparison may not be possible because of differences in testing methods, according to the sheriff’s office.
A vacationer found the foot on a beach in the Cranes Landing area, which is the east side of the island.
Island County Coroner Robert Bishop said he estimated that the foot had been in the water less than two months, though he said it’s impossible to pinpoint a timeframe. He said the foot likely belonged to a juvenile or woman, based on the size.
Wallace said the CODIS search is an ongoing process. It’s possible that a match could be made as additional samples of missing people are added to the database.
In the meantime, the foot will be stored as evidence.
Contact Whidbey News Times Assistant editor Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360.675.6611 ext. 5056.Comment on this story.
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