I have a thought to add. Just a thought.
I happen to live with a "construction worker" so to speak. He's actually a specialized one, an operating engineer. Specifically, tower cranes. We live a few hours from the "big cities" like Toronto and Ottawa, because we felt that the big city experience was something that we did not want for our family. So, this means he commutes. Most job sites start work between 6 and 7 am. Which means that if he leaves from home to get to the job site he leaves around 4 am, sometimes earlier, depending on where he has to go. Some of the engineers live quite a distance from the job sites, therefore, they either commute, leaving very early in the morning, or, they are given "allowance" so to speak that allows them to either rent an apartment (sometimes LONG TERM, depending on whether they stay with the same company for extended jobs) or pay for lodging at a hotel or rooming house.
Since my husband works the towers, if he replaced his boots more than once in 5 years I would be surprised. Assuming that the boots were the ones this person wore regularly, I wonder how much wear was on the tread? And is this person truly "local" or is it someone that hangs out in the area when he has a job there.
Now, after getting that part out, let's take a moment to look at a job site. There are general labourers, operating engineers (heavy equipment operators), carpenters, electricians, concrete pump operators, plumbers, concrete truck drivers, transport truck drivers, flagmen, food vendors, business agents, foremen....ANYBODY THAT SETS FOOT ON THE CONSTRUCTION SITE, including architects, inspectors (city and provincial)....are required to wear safety boots. And that brings me to my next thought. Every factory worker in Ontario. Truck drivers. Plumbers. Electricians. Farmers. Custodians. WASTE REMOVAL employees (now that would be a great way to get rid of incriminating evidence wouldn't it?) Some Hospital Workers. Heating and Air conditioning technicians. Window washers. Industrial bakers. The list is endless. And were these boots actually his, or were they purchased and/or used just for this crime? Every time I read an article it focuses on "construction" boots, and keeps turning my mind back to looking for just that- A CONSTRUCTION worker. If my mind goes that way then who does the general public think they are looking for? I truly hope that most minds are broader than mine, because if not, I fear he may be flying below the radar.
Just some thoughts. Does anyone else feel this way?
That's why I think the whole "boot search" is like looking for a needle in a haystack. If they had their suspects narrowed down, then the boot identification would make more sense, but to look for any Mark's Work Wearhouse boots in the province seems a little far fetched.
Wonder what the boyfriend does for a living?