A human foot discovered along the shore of a Utah lake has been confirmed by DNA analysis to belong to a man who disappeared nearly 28 years ago.
Why It Matters
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office in Richfield, Utah, confirmed on Tuesday that the appendage found at Fish Lake belonged to David White, a fisherman from Washington, Utah, who disappeared in September 1997.
White’s disappearance was one of Utah’s longest cold cases, stumping investigators and leaving his family searching for answers for almost three decades. The story resonated within the community as White was known as an avid fisherman and his unexplained loss at the popular fishing destination spurred repeated search efforts.
What To Know
Authorities determined that the foot belonged to White after DNA analysis matched the remains to him with more than 99.9994 percent certainty, according to a press release from the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office.
Newsweek reached out to the office for comment.
On May 16, a man and his dog were walking along the shore of Fish Lake in Sevier County when the dog brought a hiking boot to its owner.
Inside the boot, the man found human skeletal remains—a foot—which he promptly reported to authorities. The boot was identified as a brand manufactured only in 1996, helping investigators link it to cases from that era.
White, according to authorities, had gone to Fish Lake for a planned fishing trip with friends. After they canceled, he decided to proceed alone and rented a hotel room nearby.
He was last seen at the lake before his boat—unoccupied—was found floating across the water. White’s shoe and hat were also discovered nearby, suggesting he might have fallen overboard. No witnesses came forward. Search-and-rescue teams spent five days combing the lake and surrounding area but found nothing more, with the case ultimately going cold.
Following the discovery in May, the Utah Medical Examiner’s Office coordinated DNA testing and sent a sample from the foot—along with a sample from one of White’s daughters—to Bode Cellmark Forensics. The forensic lab determined with 99.9994 percent certainty that the remains were those of White.
White’s daughter, Stefanie Bennett, said in a statement: “We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, SAR’s, Detective Sgt Pearson, Detective Sgt Larsen, Sheriff Curtis, and Gary [Moulton] from Fishlake Lodge for their incredible support and tireless efforts. We are also deeply grateful to the individual and his dog who found the shoe—without them, we would not be where we are today.”
What People Are Saying
Sevier County Sheriff Nathan J. Curtis, in a press release: “This case has been on the mind of every one of the SAR members who were involved in the search 28 years ago. It is good to finally have some closure for the family and the searchers.”
What Happens Next
With the identification of White’s remains, authorities have closed the missing person investigation. No further search efforts are planned for Fish Lake, and the circumstances of White’s death remain officially undetermined with no evidence of foul play.
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