The Brief More than 20 severed human feet have washed up along Puget Sound and Salish Sea beaches since 2007, sparking widespread online speculation. Severed human feet, often still inside sneakers, have washed up on Puget Sound beaches for nearly two decades, fueling global fascination and internet theories. The unusual pattern has spawned social media posts, documentaries, a Wikipedia page and widespread speculation on platforms like Instagram and TikTok about what’s behind the so-called "Salish Sea foot mystery." "Well shoes float typically so that’s what helps the foot float," said Kelley. Not All Cases Mean Foul PlayThe backstory:A similar situation occurred in May 2014, when a human foot inside a sneaker was found near Seattle’s Pier 86.