# Remember all those tennis shoes with a foot found floating in waterways? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 26, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227 "2011-05-26T00:08:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/41 "2011-08-31T14:18:04Z")
Does anyone remember in the Wire when, as part of an investigation, the detectives are looking at pictures of a a bunch of bodies with their heads, hands and feet cut off and Bunk says, “I bet a bunch of cops in another city are looking at a bunch of photos of heads, hands and feet right now.” ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/42 "2011-08-31T14:39:51Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > They still don’t seem to have any idea how the feet ended up there. I don’t get how foul play could not be suspected. I’d start my investigation with the local toe truck drivers. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/43 "2011-08-31T14:42:49Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I’d start my investigation with the local toe truck drivers. [Seattle isn’t that far from Vancouver](http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/1763). ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/44 "2011-08-31T15:00:42Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > … > > ETA: also, what “natural processes” could separate a healthy young person’s foot/feet from their body? Clearly they must have died somehow, but the bodies were never found? Nat Geo had a show on this story. Included was a test\* on a sunken pig carcass to see how bodies decompose underwater. It turns out crabs are the primary scavengers, and they tear apart muscles and tendons until, eventually, the extremities detach. A foot in a shoe will then float to the surface. \*: It wasn’t just for the show; some researcher wanted to study the process like Tennessee’s “Body Farm.” ---
**Author:** ![joemama24\_98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce7236/32.png) [@joemama24\_98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joemama24_98)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/45 "2011-08-31T15:25:37Z")
you all are really toeing a fine line. ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/46 "2011-08-31T15:37:56Z")
A lot of these puns are just corny. Be that as it may, I’m sure the cases will eventually be solved, as the investigators’ methods are “instep” with modern forensic techniques. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/47 "2011-08-31T15:40:36Z")
So the next time I murder someone I should take off their shoes before dumping them in the sea? ---
**Author:** ![ecoaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/85e7bf/32.png) [@ecoaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ecoaster)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/48 "2011-08-31T16:19:38Z")
> [@Toucanna](#): > > A lot of these puns are just corny. > > Be that as it may, I’m sure the cases will eventually be solved, as the investigators’ methods are “instep” with modern forensic techniques. Yes, but the head detective is inexperienced with this type of case. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/49 "2011-08-31T16:28:28Z")
It’s a good thing the detectives found out who these feet belong to. Up 'til now, they were stumped. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/50 "2011-08-31T19:02:56Z")
> [@ecoaster](#): > > Yes, but the head detective is inexperienced with this type of case. I hear they’ve begun a foot patrol along the beaches. Perhaps this will give them a step up instead of feeling two feet behind. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/51 "2011-08-31T19:15:14Z")
How come the cops can solve all kinds of mysteries except this one? It really seems to be their… … … … … … … … … … one and only weakness. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/52 "2011-08-31T19:19:50Z")
Some people take this mystery seriously. Joking about it may be considered a _faux pas_. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/53 "2011-08-31T19:23:44Z")
_“Servant, go kill the prodigal son because a fatted calf has returned.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/54 "2011-08-31T19:25:54Z")
I can see that being callous is no impediment around here. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/55 "2011-08-31T19:30:37Z")
Now you can pick someone else’s feet in Poughkeepsie. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/56 "2011-08-31T19:32:51Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Some people take this mystery seriously. > > Joking about it may be considered a _faux pas_. You nailed it ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/57 "2011-08-31T22:56:21Z")
> [@Baracus](#): > > The person’s car was found near a bridge, so I assume the police are thinking he jumped off the bridge (“no foul play”) and the shoes remained bouyant enough to float away once the sea life (“natural processes”) had disarticulated the body. At least he didn’t hit the ground running… And good thing the poor guy wasn’t from Texas… Hey, don’t all of you go tripping all over yourselves with puns now… ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/58 "2011-09-01T03:20:48Z")
This could be the work of predators. Maybe these people have been preyed upon by pumas. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/59 "2011-09-01T03:28:45Z")
> [@toofs](#): > > Maybe these people have been preyed upon by pumas. Maybe Nature is seeking a New Balance. ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227/60 "2011-09-01T04:01:57Z")
Are there crocs in those northern waters? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-all-those-tennis-shoes-with-a-foot-found-floating-in-waterways/583227.md?page=4)