A decomposing foot found inside a black running shoe on the shore of the Ottawa River in September belonged to an Ottawa man missing for more than two years.

DNA testing showed that the foot found near Rockcliffe Parkway was that of Richie Bolanos, 21, who last spoke to his father on Dec. 5, 2005, and has not been heard from since, police confirmed Thursday.

Richie Bolanos last spoke to his father on Dec. 5, 2005, and has not been heard from since.
(Ottawa Police)

They said Bolanos had a history of mental health problems and they do not suspect foul play.

The cause of death has not been determined.

Police believe the foot became detached from the rest of the body naturally during the time it spend in the river, although they have not found any other body parts.

A woman found the black, Reebok high-top running shoe on Sept. 13, 2007, while walking with her dog and gathering debris washed up under the Belvedere lookout.

She noticed that it was unusually heavy, so she cut open the laces and peeled back the sock to reveal what looked like a foot. She then called police.