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Human foot found in Washington belongs to woman missing since 2018, officials say

Human foot found in Washington belongs to woman missing since 2018, officials say (Chalabala/Getty Images/iStockphoto)
(Chalabala/Getty Images/iStockphoto)

PORT ANGELES, Wash. — A human foot found in a shoe has been identified as belonging to a woman who went missing in 2018, officials say.

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In a news release, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office said their criminal investigations bureau had received information about a possible identification of a human foot that was found near the Elwha River in Port Angeles in Dec. 2021.

A DNA sample from the foot was sent to Othram Labs which provided the bureau with a list of people that could be a DNA match.

Detectives contacted a family member whose DNA matched that of the sample taken from the foot, and they were willing to provide a DNA sample, according to KIRO. That sample was sent to Othram Labs which confirmed that the foot belonged to Jerilyn L. Smith.

Smith was reported missing on Jan. 7, 2018. She was 68 years old when she went missing.

“The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office would also like to thank all those who participated in funding the DNA research on this case that ultimately helped a family with having some semblance of closure during the grieved loss of their loved one,” said according to the news release.

Investigators used a crowdfunding account with DNASolves to help assist with the costs, according to KIRO. The company helps to identify human remains in law enforcement investigations.

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