Clallam County Sheriff’s Office reports that a Sequim resident called 911 at 8:26 a.m. on Dec. 9 to report they found a shoe with suspected human remains at Marlyn Nelson County Park at Port Williams in Sequim.

A deputy responded and confirmed the presence of bones and human tissue inside the shoe, according to Chief Criminal Deputy Amy Bundy in a press release.

Bundy reports the shoe was about 50 feet north of the Port Williams Beach boat launch and that no other suspicious items were identified in the area.

Deputies describe the shoe as a white Puma sneaker with green and blue “Sharpie” marker colorings covering the exterior.

Its size information printed on the tongue’s tag lists the shoe as European size 35.5, U.S. size 4C, and 22 centimeters in length, and based on typical U.S. shoe standards, the length corresponds to approximately a women’s size 5 to 5.5.

The shoe and remains are now with the Clallam County Coroner’s office for further forensic examination.

Bundy wrote that no additional information is available at this time and the sheriff’s office will provide updates as the investigation progresses.

In 2023, a crowdfunding effort helped pay for advanced forensic DNA technology by Othram Labs to identify found remains of the late-Jerilyn Smith of Sequim. She was reported missing on Jan. 7, 2018, and one of her feet was discovered at the mouth of the Elwha River in December 2021.

Bundy said investigators will determine if similar forensic methods as used with Othram could be used to assist in this current case.