Crowdfunding for DNA testing on foot at 10 percent

Clallam County case centers on area near old Silver King Resort

PORT ANGELES — The crowdfunding effort for DNA testing of a human foot, which was found by a beachcomber in August 2008, has almost reached 10 percent of its $7,500 goal.

The fundraising effort through Othram’s DNASolves.com seeks to identify a human foot inside a sock and shoe found by someone walking along the beach near the old Silver King Resort about 30 miles west of Port Angeles in August 2008.

As of Thursday afternoon, $730.74 had been raised.

According to Kristen Mittelman, chief development officer at Texas-based Othram, the company is the only one that identifies people from crime scenes versus medical or consumer cases.

Its employees are experts in the human genome and forensic-grade genome sequencing techniques in the medical field.

Clallam County Sheriff Brian King has said the sheriff’s office has no new leads on the case that would cause them to employ the genetic testing other than it’s been unsolved for more than a decade and the advanced genetic testing conducted by Othram has worked before.

Investigators with the King County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the remains found inside of the shoe were part of a human foot.

They also confirmed the shoe was a size 11 Everest brand, made for the right foot and the sock was a Levi’s brand tube sock.

No other identifying information was discovered and despite investigators’ efforts, the identity of the individual remains unknown.

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office published a news release on Aug. 5, 2008, that included details of the discovery along with photographs of the shoe and the tube sock but were unable to identify to whom it belonged.

More in News

Tracy Ryan, a nurse at Jefferson Healthcare in Port Townsend, stands in front of one of the hospital’s maternity ward rooms. (Grace Deng/Washington State Standard)
Rural maternity wards are struggling to stay afloat

State and federal lawmakers are trying to help

Jefferson County approves transportation plan

Six-year improvement outlook budgeted for more than $94M

Rainwater collection presentation canceled

The Rainwater Collection 101 presentation scheduled for 6:30 p.m.… Continue reading

Rear Admiral Charles E. Fosse, right, U.S. Coast Guard District 13 commander, was the guest speaker at the U.S. Coast Guard Station Port Angeles’ annual Veterans Day celebration on Monday. Chaplain Mike VanProyen, left, and Kelly Higgins, the commanding officer at Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles, also participated in the ceremony. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Hundreds gather in Port Angeles to honor service members

High school band, choral groups highlight event

Former Marine Joseph Schwann of Port Townsend smiles as he receives a Quilt of Valor from Kathy Darrow, right, and another member of Quilts of Valor during the Veterans Day event at the American Legion Marvin G. Shields Memorial Post 26 in Port Townsend on Monday. Group leader Kathey Bates, left, was the emcee of the event. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Quilts of Valor

Former Marine Joseph Schwann of Port Townsend smiles as he receives a… Continue reading

Port Townsend ethics complaint dismissed

Officer examines argument on open meetings

Friends of the Library to host annual meeting

The Port Angeles Friends of the Library will conduct… Continue reading

Peninsula College to stage ‘The Thanksgiving Play’

Peninsula College will present its production of “The Thanksgiving… Continue reading

Ceramic sculpture “Flora-Fauna” by Thomas Connery.
Library to host reception for ‘Second Look’ exhibition

The North Olympic Library System will host a reception… Continue reading

Sequim City Council members finalized through their consent agenda to ban the sale of fireworks effective October 2025. They held a public hearing last month that garnered mostly support for the ban. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim finalizes ban on fireworks

Ordinance change will go into effect next October

Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group
Rich Krebsbach, manager of the Highland Irrigation District, asks questions of Rhiana Barkie, Clallam County public works project coordinator. The map is one of four new options for the Dungeness Off-Channel Reservoir project. Public input is being taken through the county’s website at https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/188/Dungeness-Off-Channel-Reservoir-Project.
Sequim reservoir project draws crowd, questions

Clallam County, FEMA public comment period open through Nov. 21