Mystery of severed feet in shoes found by river Seine near Paris
No body has been found but the boots have been identified as Decathlon hiking models
The presence of a weir and lock (seen in this aerial photo of Méricourt) just upstream could explain why bodies tend to wash up in this area, investigators have suggested
Francois BOIZOT / Shutterstock
Police near Paris are working to solve a gruesome mystery after two severed feet were found still wearing shoes by the banks of the river Seine.
The feet were discovered on Tuesday, September 10, in Méricourt (Yvelines, Ile-de-France). One was found by a walker on the edge of the towpath, and the other by police 20 metres away. It was clearly the other foot of the same body, inside the other walking shoe of the pair.
The shoes were from French sporting brand Decathlon. They were men’s grey, size 43, Quechua MH500 model.
The feet appear to have been “cut off cleanly with a saw”, a source close to the case told Le Parisien. Despite the gendarmerie and police beginning an immediate investigation and searches of the surrounding area, the rest of the body has not been found.
Investigations continuing
The shoes and feet have been taken to the forensic institute in Pontoise (Val-d'Oise) for analysis. Investigators are currently focused on understanding when the death occurred, and to find any traces or clues.
There are no leads at present.
Investigators are questioning whether the perpetrator threw the rest of the man’s body into the river, or whether the body parts washed up on the shore after being thrown in somewhere upstream.
“The challenge in this type of case is to identify the victim,” said one investigator. The gendarmerie are currently checking records for any recent reports of missing persons, and are carrying out DNA analysis to see if the victim was known to police.
“If we do not know who it is, it will be [almost] impossible to investigate,” the source added, saying this lack of knowledge would make it very difficult to identify a motive or any circumstances surrounding the incident.
‘Fourth discovery’
The discovery comes after the body of a partially naked man was found on the banks of the Ile aux Dames (in the same region, near Mantes-la-Jolie) encased in wire fencing, on July 20.
Finding bodies near or in the Seine is relatively common, municipal councillors say. Several have been found recently, including the body of a homeless man found by fishermen in the hamlet of Lavacourt, in Moisson.
Read also: Mystery of severed legs found in canal in Normandy
Philippe Jumeaucourt, mayor of Méricourt, said: “This is the fourth discovery of this type that I have heard about since being elected mayor in 2020.”
The presence of a weir and lock just upstream could help to explain why bodies tend to wash up in this area, investigators have suggested.
The discovery comes just over a month after two severed legs were found in the Caen canal in Calvados (Normandy).
