Going Out on a Limb in Kansas: 'Journal-World' Reports on Amputee Who Asked for his Foot Back

By: Lesley Messer Lawrence, Kansas, is full of characters. According to reporter Eric Weslander, each April 15, when taxes come due, the city's mayor dances in clogs at the post office to the sounds of a local band, for example. But even the battle-hardened Journal-World reporter expressed surprise when he heard about Ezekiel Rubottom -- the 21-year-old artist, occasional hip-hop emcee, and recovering methamphetamine addict who keeps his recently-amputated foot in a bucket of formaldehyde on his front porch.

Police were first alerted to the situation when they received a call from a parent whose child reported seeing the foot. Officers went to the home where Rubottom has been living on July 23 and confiscated the amputated body part to put it into evidence storage. They wanted to ensure that no crime had been committed, the newspaper reported.

However, two days later, after learning that it was perfectly legal to keep one's own amputated body parts, the police returned the foot to Rubottom.

What initially began as a police investigation into a ?public disturbance? quickly evolved into a fun biographical sketch of an eccentric local resident. ?I'm not going to pretend it's the hardest news story in the world -- it's just a quirky feature or profile -- but it was fun to meet someone who's just a little unusual,? Weslander said.

Weslander reported that Rubottom was born with a club foot and has dealt with pressure sores and infections throughout his life. This summer, one such infection became so severe that local doctors decided it needed to be amputated.

After the surgery, Rubottom reportedly asked to keep the foot. This hospital allowed it, provided he kept it in a container with formaldehyde.

This is exactly what Rubottom has done. He also added a beer can and a porcelain horse to the bucket. But perhaps the most striking modification was his decision to cut off two of the toes -- which he told Weslander he plans to give to friends as presents.

?It's more common than some people might think,? Weslander explained, citing examples of women who have asked to keep their uteri. ?But to put it in a bucket and turn it into an art project is sort of unusual.?

Nevertheless, Weslander maintained that Rubottom was an easy interview subject. Although he was hesitant at first, within no time Rubottom opened up about why he chose to keep his foot and how he never expected it to become such a focus of attention.

?He couldn't believe that his amputation had generated so much interest,? Weslander said. ?He didn't realize that the people in the neighborhood were upset about it. He was gregarious and he was friendly.?

He also said that Rubottom made a point to explain that he was not part of a cult and simply wanted his foot because -- it's his. But even though the article made the paper's front page, Weslander says he doesn't think he'll be writing about Rubottom again.

?He's was just part of the fabric of the community here in Lawrence,? Weslander said. ?I think he was young enough and open enough to not really care one way or the other about what's going to come out in the paper about it.?