Police: Severed foot was bear's paw, not child's

Ala. police say foot they suspected came from a missing child was actually a bear's

Staff
AP News

Sep 25, 2008 18:43 EDT

Authorities in Alabama say a severed foot brought home by a family dog belongs to a bear — and not a child as they first thought.

Police in Russellville spent two days searching surrounding wooded areas for a small child after a family dog brought the foot to its home late Saturday.

Chief Chris Hargett says the structure of the bear's foot was close enough to a human's to fool an orthopedic surgeon who examined it. But forensic tests later found its origin.

Source: AP News