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DNA from Foot found in Hiking Boot IDs Fisher Lost at Sea in 1997
Forensic Magazine ^ | August 11, 2025

Posted on 08/11/2025 12:43:40 PM PDT by nickcarraway

On May 16, 2025, the remains of a human foot inside a hiking boot were found in a shoe on the shores of Fishlake, Utah. Investigators were able to determine the hiking boot was only made in 1996 for one year.

Sevier County Sheriff’s Office (Utah) had a cold case where an individual from Washington, Utah had gone missing in September 1997. That individual was David White. White intended to go fishing with friends and had rented a nearby hotel room. Those plans fell through so White, an avid fisherman, went fishing solo. His boat was later reportedly found trolling across Fishlake with no one aboard. A shoe and hat were found floating in the water, giving a possible indication where White was believed to have fallen in. There were no witnesses at the time. The original search lasted for 5 days and no further evidence was found. All of this was a mystery—until now.

The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office sent the remains to the Utah Medical Examiner’s Office to see what could be discovered. With advice from the medical examiner, DNA from the foot and DNA from a daughter were collected and sent to Bode Cellmark Forensics. Testing came back with a 99.9994% certainty the DNA samples were related, one being the paternal parent of the other.

“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,” said Sheriff Nathan J. Curtis.

“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,” said Stefanie Bennett, daughter of David White.

The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office wants to thank all those who helped search over the years and recently. Utah DPS dive team, Utah State Parks and Recreation, and all the SAR teams who spent time helping.


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: coldcase; davidwhite; fishlake; helixmakemineadouble; seviercounty; utah
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1 posted on 08/11/2025 12:43:40 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

“Fishlake, Utah” is “at sea”? I wasn’t aware that Utah had a seacoast.


2 posted on 08/11/2025 12:45:34 PM PDT by Campion (Everything is a grace, everything is the direct effect of our Father's love - Little Flower)
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To: nickcarraway

Something is afoot.


3 posted on 08/11/2025 12:47:20 PM PDT by Round Earther
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To: Campion

Good catch. The “at sea” had me flummoxed as well.


4 posted on 08/11/2025 12:47:28 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: nickcarraway
A foot, inside a hiking boot, inside a shoe.

???

5 posted on 08/11/2025 12:47:35 PM PDT by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
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To: Campion
Well, Top Gun is in Fallon Nevada, but when Maverick and Goose went into a flat spin they headed out to sea...

So there's that.

6 posted on 08/11/2025 12:47:41 PM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
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To: Campion
“Fishlake, Utah” is “at sea”? I wasn’t aware that Utah had a seacoast.

It doesn't. But the AI program that probably generated this "story" doesn't know that.
7 posted on 08/11/2025 12:50:26 PM PDT by In_Iowa_not_from
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To: Campion

Headline writers go fir clicks. Probably never read the story.

Or maybe they use a chatbot programed for clicks?


8 posted on 08/11/2025 12:51:54 PM PDT by TexasGator (The 750 hp Florida Gnat)
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To: Deaf Smith

9 posted on 08/11/2025 12:52:00 PM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
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To: Campion

This guys wife - or ex-wife worked for me not long after this happened. A rumor was going around she was involved in his disappearance. We fired her a couple of years later for threatening to kill or severely harm another employee.


10 posted on 08/11/2025 12:53:00 PM PDT by ghost of nixon
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To: Deaf Smith

“A foot, inside a hiking boot, inside a shoe.”

Where did you see that?


11 posted on 08/11/2025 12:53:01 PM PDT by TexasGator (The 750 hp Florida Gnat)
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To: nickcarraway

12 posted on 08/11/2025 12:53:28 PM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
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To: Magnum44

And did those feet in ancient time......

(Did somebody say ‘Mattress’ to Mr. Lambert?)


13 posted on 08/11/2025 12:55:01 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Round Earther

14 posted on 08/11/2025 12:55:31 PM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
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To: Magnum44

15 posted on 08/11/2025 12:57:23 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Magnum44
Well, Top Gun is in Fallon Nevada, but when Maverick and Goose went into a flat spin they headed out to sea...

From 1969 to 1996, Top Gun was located at Naval Air Station Miramar (sea-view in Spanish) in San Diego, CA. Maverick and Goose were there in 1986.

16 posted on 08/11/2025 12:57:45 PM PDT by IYAS9YAS (There are two kinds of people: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.)
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To: Magnum44

Don’t ruin it for me. I always cry a gentle tear when I think of Goose’s demise.


17 posted on 08/11/2025 12:58:19 PM PDT by crusty old prospector
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To: TexasGator

First sentence of the posted excerpt.


18 posted on 08/11/2025 1:00:34 PM PDT by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
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To: TexasGator
Where did you see that?

From the first sentence of the excerpt: "On May 16, 2025, the remains of a human foot inside a hiking boot were found in a shoe on the shores of Fishlake, Utah."

19 posted on 08/11/2025 1:01:15 PM PDT by IYAS9YAS (There are two kinds of people: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.)
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To: nickcarraway

His name was David but everybody called him Bob.


20 posted on 08/11/2025 1:03:08 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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